Rowers raise money for Berkshire Autistic Society in memory of former classmate Joseph Edwards

More than £1,700 has been raised by students from a Windsor school in memory of a former classmate who died last summer.

Students from The Windsor Boys’ School staged an ‘ergothon’ on Friday, where they pushed themselves to the limit on indoor rowing machines to raise money for the Berkshire Autistic Society.

Nearly 100 year nine rowers from the school’s eight houses took turns to row for two hours between their break and lunch time. 

The school nominated the Berkshire Autistic Society as its chosen charity following the death of former pupil Joseph Edwards last August.

The 17-year-old, who had autism, hanged himself after falling for an internet scam claiming he owed the police money.

Joseph’s family had strong links to the Berkshire Autistic Society and deputy head boy Joseph Vacher, 18, said this inspired students at his school to do something positive for the charity.

“It was a complete shock for something so tragic to happen and we felt we couldn’t just let this happen without any remembrance,” he said.

Students also sold doughnuts and held a mufti day to help raise money in Joseph’s memory.

Tom Pausey, 17, fellow deputy head boy at The Windsor Boys’ School, said students had organised the event  because they wanted to do something for a great cause.

A total of £1,708.81 was raised and deputy head boy Joe says the school is hoping some of the money can be used to provide swimming lessons at Windsor Leisure Centre for children with autism.

Burnett House won the charity ergothon after their team managed to row a whopping 30,102 metres in two hours.

They were closey followed by students from Burgess House and Allen House who rowed 29,818 and 29,379 metres respectively.