'Run for Cass' in memory of beloved teacher returns for third year

Saturday 25 February 2023

Islanders are being invited to run - or walk - from La Frégate to St. Aubin in memory of an "exuberant" teacher to raise money and awareness for suicide prevention.

Cassie Porter, who passed away in 2020 following struggles with her mental health, was an "outgoing" Year 1 teacher at Rouge Bouillon School.

She joined the school after three years spent abroad in Thailand, and made an instant impact on both her students and the wider Jersey community.

Local charity, Caring Cooks remembered Cassie as an "incredible teacher and a beautiful young lady."

Pictured: Scenes from last year's Run for Cass. 

After she passed away in 2020, a fundraiser in memory of "bubbly" Cassie collected over four times its target.

The following year, Cassie's close friends Tom Stead, Samantha Jones and Adam Lester, and Cassie's mum Carol Porter decided to organise the 'Run for Cass' event to raise money for local charities in her name.

In its first year, the run raised £20,000 for Thrive Jersey, who are a Jersey-based organisation that develop community-wide initiatives to tackle the high suicide rate in the island. 

Last year, Run for Cass again raised money for Thrive Jersey, as well as Rouge Bouillon School and the Jersey Child Care Trust. 

Pictured: The outside area for pupils at Rouge Bouillon which was funded by 'Run for Cass'.

Run for Cass funds paid for the installation of a new outside area for pupils at Rouge Bouillon School to enjoy.

As the school's ‘eco teacher’, this was something that Cassie had planned whilst she worked there.

A charity is yet to be chosen for this year's run, but a JustGiving page will be set up closer to the time. 

Pictured: The memorial for Cassie Porter at Rouge Bouillon School. 

Tom Stead previously told Express: "Cassie was a close friend of mine. In 2019, we participated in a relay race and Cassie was on our team. After we lost her, we knew we wanted to remember her in this way. We wanted to do something positive and make a difference for this crucially important cause.”

He added: “Cassie loved working with children, so it felt right to represent her by giving back to the causes that she cared about.” 

Pictured: Cassie's mum maintains a bunch of yellow sunflowers at Cassie's favourite spot in Gorey in her memory.

The event will be taking place on 12 March for a 09:00 start. Those taking part will meet at La Frégate Cafe and run (or walk) to St Aubin and back. 

The organisers are encouraging everyone to wear yellow on the day to raise awareness of suicide prevention. Yellow was also Cass's favourite colour and the colour of her favourite flower: the sunflower.

Tom said: "The aim of the event is to bring everyone together so that we can all remember Cassie and raise awareness of suicide prevention whilst doing so."  

For more information, you can find the 'Run for Cass' event page on Facebook HERE.