2021 got off to a fairly normal start for many of us. But as the year progressed Covid-19 lockdowns became a reality across the country once again.
With 2020 still fresh in everyone’s minds, the Write a Book in a Day team were able to act quickly, pivoting aspects of the competition, extending the last day to write and helping many groups get set up to write their books from home.
The incredible results show how much the loyal participants, team coordinators, sponsors and supporters rallied around the beloved competition!
A record-breaking year
The 2021 Write a Book in a Day competition raised an all-time high of over $595,000 for childhood cancer research through The Kids’ Cancer Project, with teams participating from Christmas Island to Tasmania.
This year’s fantastic stats.
– 507 writing groups
– 1,252 teams from every state and territory
– 8,307 writers
– Over 1,000 books written for children in hospital
A shout out to the schools that entered 20 or more teams.
– Brighton Secondary College, SA entered 42 teams
– St Mary MacKillop College Canberra, ACT entered 33 teams
– Corinda State High School, QLD entered 21 teams
– Redeemer Lutheran College, QLD entered 20 teams
And of course, an extra special well done to the many schools that participated this year during lockdown.
How your books help
Books written as part of Write a Book in a Day will be shared on our online library for kids in hospital to read.
Alex La Rossa is a childhood cancer survivor and ambassador for The Kids’ Cancer Project. After undergoing months of intense treatment, he knows firsthand how much little things can brighten up scary days for kids in hospital.
“When I was 13, I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. As someone who went through treatment, I know just how important it is to just have ‘one good day’. It is incredible that through your writing you are able to provide that to children in hospital.”
– Alex La Rossa, childhood cancer survivor and past Write a Book in a Day participant.
Top fundraisers
Top individual fundraisers
1. Zara S. $8326: KRB Year 7, Kincoppal – Rose Bay School of the Sacred Heart, Rose Bay NSW
2. Zoe K. $8192: Chapter Six, Hunters Hill High School, Hunters Hill, NSW
3. Angelie L. $3630: St Hilda’s One, St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls, Mosman Park, WA
Top team fundraisers
1. KRB Year 7, $12,926: Kincoppal – Rose Bay School of the Sacred Heart, Rose Bay NSW
2. Chapter Six, $12,066: Hunters Hill High School, Hunters Hill, NSW
3. The Ten Pens, $9640: SCEGGS Darlinghurst, Darlinghurst, NSW
Prize draw winners
1. Writing Wizards, Bomaderry Public School (BOMADERRY), Amount raised: $1,395
Best books
The Kids’ Cancer Project Write a Book in a Day team would like to thank all the participants for their incredible entries this year, which are submitted for children to read in hospitals across Australia. The standard was incredibly high, with an amazing range of stories, characters and themes.
Thank you to all our volunteer readers who offered their time to help read and rank all the books. Without them, there would be no Write a Book in a Day!
A huge thank you as well to our esteemed panel of judges. They had the tricky task of whittling down all the books to pick the winners.
And without further ado, here they are…
National awards
Primary School
Best book “The Gift of Time” by Year 5 Team, Kings Christian College – Pimpama Campus, QLD
Best illustration “The Problematic Prize by The Awesome Authors, St Jerome’s Primary School, WA
Middle School
Best book “High Spirits” by Ryde Secondary Team, Ryde Secondary College, NSW
Best illustration “The Adventures of Max and Ash” by REDACTED, Kalamunda Senior High School, WA
Upper School
Best book “Timeless” by Golden Grapefruits, Applecross Senior High School, WA
Best illustration “Blooming” by The Biro-nic Heroes, Perth Modern School, WA
Open
Best book “The Land of Lost Things” by 47 plus 3, NSW
Best illustration “Tempus Fugit (time flies)” by Hail and Well Met, WA
