A Gerrards Cross teacher has been inspired to write a book to raise vital funds for a children’s charity.

Zeenat Hashim decided to write ‘Dear Teacher’ to raise cash for Childline.

She was keen to pen the book after writing to her former teacher to thank him for inspiring her to go to university and train as a teacher.

As a youngster, her home life was difficult as her mother suffered with mental illness and she faced regular racial slurs while walking to school from bullies. She recently wrote to the teacher who supported her during this time, but had sadly passed away - and so she was inspired to write a book.

She contacted various teachers from across the region and wrote to friends and family members to ask for contributions to the book.

The book details letters from adults to their former teachers thanking them for their dedication and help during difficult times, inspiring and motivating them, and includes entries from other teachers as well as former students.

Zeenat said: “Growing up I had very little confidence, except from knowing I was good at maths. My home life was difficult, my mum suffered from a mental illness and my upbringing was quite strict.

"Regularly on walks to school I would be verbally attacked with racial slurs and despite telling my bullies I would do better than they ever could, internally I was struggling.

“This was 30 years ago and back then talking about mental health wasn’t common, but I couldn’t stay silent anymore and I spoke to a person I knew I could trust - my special teacher.

"He not only helped me, but inspired me to go on to university and get my degree. After that I realised, I wanted to follow in his footsteps and inspire the next generation.

“I recently decided to write to him to thank him for everything he had done, unfortunately I found out he had passed away.

She said: “This book is for him and for people and services like Childline who go above and beyond to help and protect children and young people; that’s why I’m donating all of the profits to charities which impact positively on the lives of children with 25 per cent of all profits going to Childline.”

Zeenat’s book, ‘Dear Teacher’, is available on amazon.co.uk as of August 12.