Kuranui mufti-day a boost for Jacob

Expect to see about 500 students in a variety of dress crossing the State Highway in Greytown tomorrow.

Kuranui College is channelling its mufti-day 10km walk/run towards the care of one of their own, Year 11 student Jacob Skinner, who was diagnosed with cancer and rushed to Christchurch for treatment last week.

Students will head to Woodside station on the Greytown rail trail, and back.

Principal Geoff Shepherd said the event had been organised by the four house deans as a generic charity fundraiser, but suddenly the need was closer to home.

"We're dividing into two groups. There will be people who run it, and the rest of the school will walk it.

"When we get them back to school, there will be a barbecue."

Students have been encouraged to dress up.

The fee for wearing mufti will provide much of the fundraising.

Mr Shepherd said Jacob's classmates were "very shocked" about Jacob.

"One of their own, suddenly diagnosed as very unwell.

"He's a young, popular, sporting student."

He said the response for the event was "fantastic".

"We were going to be looking at raising money for charity. We had already planned the event, and this is much more fitting," Mr Shepherd said.

"It's far better going to one of our own."

He said there were more fundraisers being planned.