A Southland mother who is horrified by the devastation of Victoria's bushfires has arranged for at least 40 schools in the South to stage fundraisers for the victims. She hopes schools and others in Otago will do the same.
Sonia Buckingham, who went to school in Gore and recently returned to Southland after spending six years on the Gold Coast, has been overwhelmed by the generosity of schools in the province. She hopes the fundraisers will raise about $20,000.
Blue Mountain College's mufti day last week, which featured in last Saturday's Otago Daily Times, was just one of several campaigns she has organised. It was her children, Jaden (10) and Calem (8), who came up with the idea.
The family had been watching television coverage of the bushfires when the children said they wished they could do something to help.
The children, who attend Invercargill's New River Primary School, decided to organise a fundraiser there, and the idea grew.
Miss Buckingham began contacting other schools in the Southland telephone book and now has 40 schools working on ideas or staging events soon.
She is working alongside Red Cross to ensure every dollar collected goes directly to help the bushfire victims.
Miss Buckingham makes an effort to attend each school's fundraising event where possible.
To date, five schools have raised $3600 and 20 others ran events this week.
"What has happened over there [in Victoria] is just too big for anyone to fully comprehend, but I hope schools and others will dig deep and do their bit to help out," she said.
Otago schools and workplaces keen to become involved can contact Miss Buckingham on (03) 218-1971.
