Children from Bredon School have raised more than £600 for a school in Zimbabwe in one of their biggest-ever charity fund-raisers.

The 28 children aged from 7-11 from Bredon’s Junior department set off from the Tank Quarry car park at the northern end of The Malverns then walked up and down 15 peaks to Hollybush car park in the south. Led by teacher Mike Tweddell, the pupils were accompanied by Head of Juniors Jane Merchant, five other teachers, 25 parents and friends – and four dogs!

The money raised will go to the Ntunungwe School, near Bulawayo. “Our teacher,
Mrs Merchant, told us about the school which has to be rebuilt because there is a huge white ants nest underneath it,” said eight-year-old Lauren Hayward. “The ants are poisonous, so until they’ve got the money to build it again all the children must have lessons outside.”

“The walk was really hard, and it was quite cold,” said 10-year-old Edward Clews, “but it was worth it, because you see the pictures of the children in Zimbabwe and you know you’re doing it to help them.”

All the pupils from the independent school near Tewkesbury who took part completed the walk and each one received a commemorative medal.

The children also donated £50 that they had raised through the tuck shop. “We had a vote,” said Edward. “A couple of the juniors wanted to buy some more K’nex [a construction toy] but most of us decided to send the money to the school.”

Mrs Merchant first came across the school when she was visiting a friend living near Bulawayo 10 years ago. “I was both shocked and humbled by what the teachers and children achieved at the school with so little. There are about 250 children at the school and half have lost their parents to AIDS or civil unrest.”

The children at Bredon are now busy thinking up other ways to raise money for their less fortunate counterparts in Zimbabwe.

ENDS

Issued on behalf of Bredon School by Edge Media

MEDIA CONTACTS: Principal Mr David Keyte on 01684 293156 or Paul Herbert at Edge Media on 01453 544900