When assistant headteacher Emma Green was diagnosed with breast cancer, staff and pupils at Newark Hill Primary School were determined to lift her spirits and thank medics who helped her get better following her surgery.

One pupil, Amber Yates (10), raised cash by a sponsored silence. She said: "I helped to raise money by being silent for six hours one weekend. It was hard, because I'm usually a chatterbox, but I wanted to do it and was proud of myself afterwards."

Now after months of sponsored events, tombolas and other moneyspinners at the school, the department at Edith Cavell Hospital where Ms Green was treated is now £1,000 richer.

The cash will go towards buying a hi-tech piece of kit which will help better guide surgeons performing breast operations.

Ms Green, who is assistant headteacher at the school in Eastfield Road, Peterborough, said she was overwhelmed by the support.

She said: "I was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2007, and have been overwhelmed by the support of my colleagues, and the children and their parents.

"My colleagues organised lots of events such as pink tombolas, pink dress-up days and pink raffles, and a team of 31 of us ran the Race for Life together – which was only two days before my breast surgery, but it was something I was determined to do.

"The children also thought of lots of unusual ideas to raise extra money.

"Ross saved pennies in a pot for six months, which came to £35 and Amber held a sponsored silence."

Breast care nurse specialist Claire Hall said: "We owe such a lot to the people who raise money for our department as it makes it possible to buy things we may not otherwise be able to.

"We are very grateful to Emma Green and all the staff, pupils and parents of Newark Hill Primary School who donated this money, which will go towards a new state-of-the-art headlight for surgeons to use when performing breast operations in intricate areas such as under the armpit."

They have been saving for the headlight for a few months and now have £2,582 from generous donations – just under half the total cost of £5,700.