Published: 02/02/2010 13:40 - Updated: 03/02/2010 09:44

SCHOOLS in and around Ashbourne have been in full voice to raise funds for the thousands suffering in earthquake-hit Haiti.

 

Children from some of the area’s primary schools have been so moved by the Caribbean disaster they have rallied together to raise hundreds of pounds for the international aid effort.

Money was raised through nonuniform days and by hundreds of children from a selection of schools singing a special song at the same time on the same day to raise money.

The song, a re-worded version of “If you’re happy and you know it”, was the idea of teacher Sue Pedley teaching assistant Josie Winbow at Ashbourne’s Hilltop Infant and Nursery School.

Mrs Pedley said “We have all been affected by the horrific scenes of suffering that we have seen on the television and we wanted to do something that our children would understand to help the children in Haiti”.

The song, which was aired on Ashbourne Radio, helped tiny village school Sudbury Primary school raise £38, and other small village schools, such as Osmaston and Marston Montgomery reported similar successes.

One young Hill Top pupil, Olexa Riley, was so moved by the coverage she had seen on children’s news programme Newsround that it prompted her to empty her piggy bank and donate the £20 contents to the appeal.

At St Oswald’s School all 107 pupils took part in a 15 minute sponsored silence, and parents helped children raise £225.00.

Meanwhile Norbury school pupils arranged a non-uniform day and, despite the school only having 59 pupils, they managed to raise a whopping £230 in just one day.

Carsington and Hopton C of E Primary School’s 44 children also held a non-uniform day to raise money, and the entire project was masterminded by two Year 5 pupils at the School.

Jessie Summerhayes and Eden Treanor set up the event to help try and buy a ‘shelter box’ — an idea the girls researched and borrowed from a school in Biddenham, Bedfordshire.

A ‘shelter box’ contains a tent, tools, a cooker and all the essentials needed to set up a temporary shelter.

Their campaign quickly caught the eye of villagers, and the small rural community helped the girls up the fund to more than £200 ● A SPONSORED Swim to raise money for Haiti is being held this weekend at Ashbourne Leisure Centre.

Derbyshire Dales District Council has arranged the event, on Saturday from noon until 2pm, and all are welcome to take part.

Sponsorship forms can be collected from reception and participants will be asked to turn up on the day to register for their swim.

Swimmers can cover any distance they like from 25 metres and arm bands are permitted.

To find out more, ask at the leisure centre.