Darlington Rotakids Pupils Lead the Way

A group of pupils at a Darlington primary school have raised enough money to sponsor three guide dogs for the blind.

The children at Reid Street school were inspired by a parent governor Lorna Davies who came to the school with her guide dog to tell them about Guide Dogs for the Blind and how it works.

The fund raising was led by the school’s Rotakids – an organisation for primary school children, which is connected to Darlington Rotary – and through various activities they raised just over £640.

Rotary President Peter Phillips said: ‘It is an amazing result for the children and the school as a whole. The pupils come up with their own ideas and to have raised so much is a credit to them and the staff.’

Joanne Davison, who is the school link with Rotary, said: ‘We are very proud of our Rotakids. They danced, had a quiz and a sponsored silence and we raised enough to sponsor three dogs.’

She said that other recent fundraising activities involved a spring clean to collect clothes no longer needed. They collected 427 kilos of clothes and raised £189. A donation of £150 will go to the British Heart Foundation and the rest will buy Easter Eggs for an end of term raffle.