Ringmer mum '˜over the moon' at school's effort

Claire Packham’s daughter Lucie was admitted to the Evelina London Children’s Hospital just a few months after her birth for the operation, which will need to be repeated twice more when she reaches toddler age.

Wanting to do something to help the hospital, Ms Packham approached Ringmer Primary School, where her three other children are pupils, to ask if they could help raise some funds for the Evelina.

Ms Packham said: “Three of my kids go to Ringmer Primary School, and so I approached the school to see if there was anything they could to help raise money for the Evelina, where my children’s younger sister was having open heart surgery.

“The Evelina’s fundraiser is a Bright Day, where children wear colourful clothes to school to raise money.

“I asked the school if they would be able to do this and they said it wouldn’t be possible, but then they did suggest using World Book Day as a fundraiser instead.”

On Thursday, March 3, pupils at Ringmer Primary School dressed as their favourite literary characters, and donations collected from those taking part totalled £44.40, which will now be donated to the hospital.

Ms Packham’s children - Alfie, 10, Ellie-May, 8, and Maddie, 6, - also dressed up as their favourite characters for the day, including Princess Sofia and Darth Vader from Star Wars.

The mother-of-four, who lives in Ringmer, said: “I was over the moon when Mr Evans, the headteacher, suggested using World Book Day to raise money for the hospital. I’d asked him about the Bright Day and although he said the school couldn’t do that, they would try to do something to help at least - and that’s when he suggested World Book Day. He didn’t have to do that, and I’m really grateful that he did.

“The hospital have been so helpful with my daughter and I just wanted to give something back.”

The Evelina London Children’s Hospital cares for children and young people from across south London and south east England.

Children’s services at Evelina London are mainly located in the building alongside St Thomas’ Hospital, Westminster Bridge Road.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.sussexexpress.co.uk/

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Sussex-Express/

3) Follow us on Twitter @sussex_express

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Sussex Express - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.