School raises RM40,000

Alice Smith School in Kuala Lumpur raised more than RM40,000 for victims and survivors of the Dec 26 tsunami tragedy from parents, students and individual sponsors over the past few weeks.

At the school's seventh Fun Run recently, about 100 students and parents showed their support for the cause by taking part in a charity race.

After being briefed on the race format, the participants , who were dressed in sportswear and even fancy dress, took to the field in a relaxed manner at 9.30am on Jan 16.

While some jogged along the zigzag track, others simply walked hand-in-hand with their children, schoolmates and friends.

At the end of one-hour race, the participant with the fanciest costume walked away with a prize.

Charity co-ordinator Simon Rimmington said the school usually donated money raised form the event to Rumah Bethany in Lumut but this year, most of the money would be channelled to the tsunami relief fund.

He said before the race, participants and the associates pledged the amount of money for each lap completed and the officials would tabulate the total at the end of the race.

"We are lucky nobody here was hurt and we feel that the school, as part of the community, can help," he said.

Besides the fun run, the school had organised activities like a 24-hour fasting campaign, a food collection drive and fun fair, all of which were in aid of tsunami victims and survivors.

"We are also looking for into some long-term plans. Some of the older children from the school hope to help rebuild the homes of those affected," added Rimmington