Purple patch is a Willow winner as Letchworth students stage colourful charity drive

Staff and students at the Da Vinci Studio School of Creative Enterprise in Letchworth had a bit of a purple patch when the decided to put their weight behind Hertfordshire-based charity Willow.

The school united with people up and down the country to help launch Willow’s Paint it Purple campaign by joining in with a week packed full of fundraising activity.

Classmates, colleagues and friends got in the spirit by holding purple themed parties, dress down days and baking purple cakes to raise a total of £140 for the cause.

Submitting to a spell in the stocks was vice-principal Devon Woolley.

Willow is the only national charity working with seriously ill young adults aged 16 to 40 to fulfil uplifting and unforgettable ‘special days’.

It was founded by former Arsenal goalkeeper and TV presenter Bob Wilson and his wife Megs as a lasting memorial to their daughter Anna, who died of cancer when she was only 31.

Purple is the colour of Willow’s logo and was also one of Anna’s favourite colours.

Each special day the charity arranges provides a positive experience to be shared with a partner, parents, siblings, children or close friends.

To date, Willow has provided more than 11,500 Special Days for young adults diagnosed with a life-threatening condition such as cancer, motor neurone disease, cystic fibrosis and Huntington’s disease.

There’s still time to get involved. Visit www.willlowfoundation.org.uk/purple for a fundraising pack and ideas.