User:ARThorby/sandbox

Stockport Grammar School pupil, Katie Thorburn, focused on others before losing her fight with cancer. Katie, a very bright, hard-working pupil, was also a talented and keen netball player. She was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer known as osteosarcoma two years ago at the start of her GCSEs but continued to attend school as often as she could. A popular pupil, she enjoyed a 16th birthday party in school with friends in October last year, arranged by School Nurse, Mrs Pam Ward. She remained positive and determined throughout her illness. Rallying the rest of her year group before Christmas 2012 to help her raise over £1,700 to give presents called “Katie’s box of smiles” to the other young people sharing the same ward at the Royal Manchester Children’s hospital with her that year. Katie was in the midst of organising a ball to raise cash for charity CLIC Sargent on April 26th but sadly died on Saturday 5th April, just weeks before the event. The event went ahead in recognition of the battling teenager’s efforts, raising over £60,000. Katie’s fundraising to date stands at £75,000. Katie was treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and this led to her losing her hair. She continued to think of others and even sported a distinctive temporary head tattoo to raise awareness of her condition. Her older brother Dan in the Upper Sixth is a very talented artist who has been accepted to study Art at Central St. Martin’s College, London in September. She continues to be an inspiration to many pupils and staff at SGS.