We are excited to announce that Dr Fiona Pathiraja and Mr Søren Fryland Møller have donated £300,000 to Cheltenham Ladies’ College.
Their generous donation will go towards key projects at College, and we look forward to sharing more on the progress of these exciting plans over the coming months.
Part of their donation will also contribute to fundraising annually for a charity nominated and voted for by students. This year, the students’ chosen charity is Gloucestershire Young Carers, which provides a wide range of essential services for young carers and aims to create opportunities for rest, fun, skill development, and support.
We were delighted to welcome Dr Fiona Pathiraja, who is a Venture Capitalist and former CLC Council Member, to speak at Speech Day this year, as we celebrated the end of the academic year and our leaving Class of 2025.
Dr Fiona Pathiraja is also one of Europe’s most active angel investors, investing to reduce the financial gender gap. Fiona is a former NHS doctor who sits on the boards of the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Art. She gave an inspiring talk to students and their families about philanthropy and living a life of service, as well as reminding pupils to not stay in their lanes and to chase their dreams.
The world might try to shrink some of your dreams. Sometimes it might be loud - someone telling you, ‘you can’t do this’. Sometimes it’ll be quiet - a raised eyebrow or a lingering hesitation that says, ‘people like you aren’t meant to do things like this’ … It’s a subtle way of saying, stay small, keep quiet, don’t rock the boat.
It happens to girls and women across the world. Cultural norms, family and community pressures, corporate environments, and other people's opinions will tell you - stay in your lane. But I'm here to say - don't listen to the noise. Look inwards and dare to trust yourself.
You have everything inside you to change the world. Every lane remains open to you, and all dreams are valid, no matter how big or small. Be bold. Take up all the space that you need in the world to make your vision a reality.
Dr Fiona Pathiraja, Speech Day 2025
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