Ashingdon five year old fundraising for new school equipment

Evelyn Raynham, a Year One pupil at Ashingdon Primary Academy School, in Fambridge Road, is calling on support from the community to raise £22,000 to help buy new equipment for the school’s playground.

The youngster loved using the school’s climbing frame and slide, but it has been out of action for more than a year due to health and safety issues.

It could cost more than £22,000 for a new, functional jungle gym set.

Evelyn, with the help of her mum Charli, is taking on a sponsored swimming challenge for two hours to raise as much money as possible for new equipment for children at the school to enjoy.

Evelyn’s mum, Charli McDonald, 34, said: “My daughter is obsessed with trying to get this jungle gym running again.

“It has been out of action for a year because Ashingdon Primary was quoted £22,000 to restore it to working condition, which is crazy money. They do not have that money.

“Evelyn regularly asks when we will have enough money to fix it and if she can go back on it yet, she has even tried to take all the money from her piggybank to the school on multiple occasions.

“She wanted to do something that could be sponsored so she decided she wanted to do swimming, unaided, for two hours.

“It would be great to have the jungle gym up and running, she really wants it running again and even though we only set this fundraiser up at the weekend, we’ve managed to get some awareness and family, friends and teachers have been so nice. They have really gotten behind it.”

The fundraiser, aiming to raise £22,000, currently has £560 from 42 backers.

Evelyn will take on her swimming challenge in February half term.

“We would like local businesses to get involved to help us raise money and we are calling on school groups and anyone who can help. It would be such a good thing,” Charli said,”

Visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Evelyn-Ashingdon-primary-jungle-gym.