TWO schoolgirls have helped raise nearly £1,000 by organising a sponsored run on behalf of their cousin.
Elly Stonebridge, 11, and her nine-year-old sister Izzy, who attend North Ealing Primary School, rallied 18 of their classmates together and ran laps around a section of nearby Pitshanger Park on Monday last week.
They did it for their 23-year-old cousin Jamie, who has had severe ME (or chronic fatigue syndrome), for almost six years. The associated fatigue, muscle pain and other symptoms have meant he has been virtually housebound for the past three years.
Elly and Izzy, of Princes Gardens, decided to raise money for the ME Association.
Their mother Jane, who works as a teaching assistant at the school, in Pitshanger Lane, said: “Me and my husband were thinking of doing something as a family to raise money. North Ealing Primary were encouraging children to organise events and a lot were holding cake sales.
“My elder daughter Elly thought she wanted to do something different and stood up in front of her class and said ‘I’m going to organise a sponsored run, who is interested?’ Her younger sister did the same thing and on a cold wet horrible Monday after school 20 kids took part.
“It was incredible. They were so determined. Even when it got dark and we couldn’t see anymore they were asking to do one more lap. I thought they would make a few hundred but to bring in nearly £1,000 is amazing.
“They’re very proud of themselves and I’m very proud of them too.”
