The money had been raised back in February when every pupil took it in turn to hop, skip or jump backwards and forwards across the school hall in a charity skipathon, organised by Crackley’s Mini Vinnies. The underlying purpose of the Mini Vinnies, the junior arm of the St Vincent de Paul organisation, is to make a difference to underprivileged people’s lives.

The cheque was presented to Sister Philomena by Senior Minnie Vinnie and Junior 6 pupil Andrea Zanyi, in assembly in front of the whole school. The money raised will be used by the Sister Mary Aloysius College of Mercy in Nigeria to help fund urgent building works and to repair the school minibus enabling more children in Nigeria to benefit from an education.

Mini Vinnies’ Co-ordinator, Mrs Dolores Simmonds explains, “This year the children skipped to support the Sister Mary Aloysius College of Mercy in Nigeria.  It is a school funded completely by donations and named in thanks after a Sister of Mercy.  The Minnie Vinnies chose the charity because our school has links with the Sisters of Mercy as Sister Philomena was Headmistress from 1981 to 1991 when the school was a convent.”

Mrs Simmonds continued, “Well done to all the skippers who took part and a big thank you to those who generously donated to the skipathon. Sister Philomena was delighted to receive the cheque.”