A teacher from Hammersmith has raised funds to help rebuild and improve educational facilities in Tanzania.
Imogen Riley, head of geography at Portland Place School in Westminster, quit sugar in a bid to raise money for her students to fly to Babati, in 2016 to work alongside charity, Livingstone Tanzania Trust. There they will help rebuild schools which have crumbled and cannot afford to patch up their roof or walls.
Thirteen students from years 11, 12 and 13 must raise £300 each to make the trip happen and the 33-year-old, along with geography teacher Hannah Johnston, cut out sweet treats in all forms for four weeks to kick-start the fund-raising efforts.
Imogen, from Gliddon Road, said: “The first few days were hard but you do get used to it. It was just surprising just how many foods have sugar in. You don’t realise until you really read the back of a packet. The good thing is you eat more natural food and feel healthier for it.
“It was worth the sacrifice so that money could be raised for the students to go to Tanzania and help the less fortunate.”
Portland Place School, a prep school in Marylebone, is aiming to raise £5,000 for the trip and students have planned some thrilling fundraising activities from skydiving and football tournaments to Christmas parties for the lower years.
"Money for Imogen's fundraising drive is still coming in and being counted.
Headmaster at Portland Place, David Hyman said: “We are very proud that Imogen cut out sugar for so long as it vastly limits the food you can eat. It is fantastic that our students are so aware of those less fortunate and want to do something to help for a second time.”
To sponsor Imogen and Portland Place School for the trip visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/PPSTanzania2016
