Saffron Walden County High School's fundraiser is a Touch-ing gesture

PUPILS are celebrating after raising nearly �2000 towards cleaner drinking water for people in South Africa.

Saffron Walden County High School's year leadership forum - a body of pupils dedicated to annually raising cash for a charity - has been carrying out a series of events in aid of the Touch Africa charity.

Jane Watts from the school's maths department said: "The forum consists of 20 students and comprises of two students from each form in the year group. The charity is always nominated by one of them and this year a student called Lauren Cook proposed Touch Africa after her father had completed a bike ride in South Africa for the same charity.

"Laura had been particularly touched by her father's stories and photographs and thought the students could make a difference".

The pupils decided to focus on one particular aspect of the Touch Africa charity, namely Life Straws - handheld water purification devices that can be hung around the neck.

Money raising events included selling coloured wristbands with the slogan 'Don't Pull the Short Straw', two lunchtime raves, cake sales, raffles with donations from local businesses and an Indian restaurant evening at the The Mogul which donated �1000.

Mrs Watts added: "We sold the 90 tickets at school in just under a week. With this additional donation from The Mogul, this year's fundraising has moved onto a new level and the year group are understandably very excited by the amount of money raised - now very close to �2000.

"We were fortunate enough to have the founder of Touch Africa, Mike Glover visit the school last week and give the year group a special assembly on the charity and thank them for all of their efforts.

"He was due to fly back to South Africa straight after the assembly but nonetheless was keen to fit us into his schedule."

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