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All about BerkoAstro
A £1.3million fundraising drive has been launched to build a state-of-the-art pitch in memory of a popular teen who died suddenly of a brain haemorrhage.
Football-mad Nick Walsh– an Ashlyns student– was fundraising for the school when he died at the age of just 17 in 2007.
Now the Chesham Road school has launched a 1.3million fundraising campaign to build a full-size, high-quality, floodlit pitch and changing block.
The all-weather pitch is to be named after the pupil from Cowper Road,
Berkhamsted, whose death shook the town.
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Ten years ago the school failed to raise funds for a sports hall and astroturf, but has now relaunching its plans.
The scheme, The BerkoAstro Project, is a joint venture between Ashlyns and Raiders Football Club.
Ashlyns governor Jacqueline Webby said: "It is a fitting tribute to Nick. He was passionate about sport. He will always be remembered.
She added: "We are going to make this a reality. The fact is there a shortage of football pitches and sporting facilities in Berkhamsted.
"This is something the town needs and what we plan to create is not just for Ashlyns, but for the community."
However, in order to make the plan a reality, the school has set itself a target of raising 1.3million by next March.
It is hoped a joint venture with Raiders, who have been searching for a new pitch for almost 10 years, will help secure the necessary funding
to make this new scheme a reality.
Already around 700,000 has been pledged, of which 20,000 has come from the School Association and 30,000 from a fund set up from the previous attempt to build a sports hall and astroturf.
It is hoped a chunk will come from the Football Foundation, although this depends on whether the authorities support the project.
Mrs Webby said: "Without support from the county, borough and town councils, this cannot go ahead – it is as simple as that."
Over the next year all fundraising at the school will help pay for the development.
New Ashlyns headteacher James Shapland said: "We are resurrecting a
great idea that students, their families and neighbours will be able to use."
It is thought that schools across the town will have access to the new pitch up until 6pm every night and Raiders will also have priority time
slots.
It will also let community groups in the town use it after 6pm at a discounted rate and it will be open until 10am. Groups from outside
the area will also be able to use it for a fee.
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Weather for Hemel Hempstead
Saturday 26 May 2012
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