School has already raised nearly £2,000 already to help refugees
BIRCHGROVE Primary School pupils have this week started a walk for Ukraine fundraising effort.
The School Council worked out that if each pupil and member of staff walked 4.4 miles they would cover the distance between Cardiff and Kyiv.
The progress of the walk is being depicted by the school’s star badge on a map.
Ruth Davies, who organised the fundraiser with the School Council, said: “Support from parents and carers has been fantastic, with one year group having 21 adults accompanying them!
“Our School Council and Year 5 children felt very passionate about doing something to support people in Ukraine. We decided to hold a sponsored walk to raise money which we will donate to the Ukraine appeal via the British Red Cross.”
Ms Davies said that all pupils completed a 1.4 mile walk in the area for their PE sessions this week. The remaining three miles will be completed by Monday, March 21.
As of today, pupils have walked 543 miles, meaning the Birchgrove Star has reached Germany. With the remaining walks this afternoon, they are expecting to reach the German/Polish border by the end of the day.
Ms Davies said: “We are hoping that with staff and pupils completing their three miles over the weekend, we will reach Kyiv on Monday.”
To celebrate Red Nose Day today, it was decided the children would dress in blue and yellow, the colours of the Ukrainian flag, instead of dressing up.
Ms Davies said: “We have had an amazing response with pupils creating their own T-shirts and accessories to support such a worthy cause.
“We don’t have a fundraising goal as such, but our whole school community has been very supportive of the event. So far we have raised an amazing £1,777 and we anticipate there will be more donations to follow on Monday.”
You can donate to the British Red Cross Ukraine appeal here.
Heath and Birchgrove Conservative Councillor Lyn Hudson said: “I am delighted by the efforts of Birchgrove Primary School.
“Anything we can do to help those in Ukraine and those trying to flee is much welcomed – so what they’re doing is great.”
Similar efforts have been made across Wales.
Simon Hart, Secretary of State for Wales, today revealed that 10,326 people in the country have expressed an interest in housing Ukrainian refugees.
The UK government opened its new scheme on Monday, which will give households that home a refugee fleeing the war in Ukraine £350 per month.
Across the UK, 147,500 people registered an interest, with Wales’ efforts contributing to 7% of this figure, despite Welsh population making up just 5% of the UK’s.
Mr Hart said the effort was “remarkable” and called it “a true team effort from the whole of the UK”.
