Workington children don pyjamas for fundraiser

27th January 2017

School children from St Mary’s Catholic Primary School are spending the night away from home in aid of the Winter Warmth Appeal to support older people across the county.

The Big Sleep, organised by Cumbria Community Foundation is held on Saturday 28th January in Windermere and raises money for the Winter Warmth Appeal – a pot of cash distributed across the county to help older people suffering from rising fuel costs and poor health. People are sponsored to sleep outside for the night and discover what it’s really like to suffer from the cold.

However, the 45 school children, who are all aged between 3 and 11 are unable to make the actual Big Sleep event and are hosting their own at the school this Friday evening, already raising more than £200.

This is the second time the school children have taken on the challenge. Kathryn Lowery, who is organising the event, said: “We all had a fantastic time last year, and the children even wanted the heating off to appreciate what older people endure. We wanted to make this an annual event, although the children did ask if they could do it every weekend! We’ll be decorating a duvet and having lots of fun and games to keep everyone entertained.”

Local businesses such as Caspian, The Brewery House, McDonald’s and Dominoes are all supporting the children by providing hot food and refreshments.

Annalee Holliday, Grants and Donor Services Officer, said: “It’s heart-warming to see young people engaging with local charities and raising money for such a worthwhile cause.”

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