A NEWS SHOPPER article about a terminally ill four-year-old girl touched a Bexleyheath school's pupils so much that they raised more than £2,000 for her cause.

Last month, we told Rosie Staunton's story - a happy healthy child from Crayford whose family's life was turned upside down after she was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme Grade 4 cancer.

The inoperable tumour means the only treatment available are courses of radiotherapy and chemotherapy to manage Rosie’s pain over the next few years.

Mum Laura and Dad Ryan, of Ducketts Road, aimed to raise £30,000 to pay for a loft conversion to allow Rosie her own bedroom instead of sharing with seven-year-old sister Leila.

The story tugged at the heartstrings of pupils at St Columba's Catholic Boys' School, in Halcot Avenue, who asked if they could help put a smile on Rosie's face.

News Shopper:

Knowing of Rosie's fondness for pink, students paid £2 each to wear their own clothes on Thursday (DECEMBER 12) while staff wore pink roses and used pink collecting buckets to raise funds in the run-up to the Christmas holidays. Headteacher Nigel Fisher said: "The outpouring of love and support for Rosie at a difficult time for her and her family is characteristic of our students.

"They are very much aware of what is happening locally and globally and their desire to collect on Rosie’s behalf is a gratifying reflection of the ethos of the school."

The money will be presented to the family before Christmas and having exceeded the target, Mrs Staunton said work is due to begin early next year.

She told News Shopper: "It's an amazing amount of money and it's really touching to know that even young children are touched by Rosie's story. It's just really nice and I'm very grateful to them for doing it.

"We are just really looking forward to having a nice family Christmas together with all our families and to know that after Christmas, we can do the loft conversion, we can get on with our life.

"Although the fundraising has been amazing, it's nice to be able to finish the job we started and enjoy our life now."