Sunderland care home residents support Southmoor Academy pupil's fundraising appeal


When they and staff at Belle Vue House in Mowbray Close heard that 15-year-old Southmoor Academy pupil George Cowley was raising money to visit Africa to try and improve the lives of others, they immediately stepped in to help.
And tomorrow (Saturday) they will throw open the doors and grounds of the 27-bed home to hold a fundraising summer carnival to help George reach his £4,330 target.
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Hide AdFrom 2pm onwards, residents, their families, friends and members of the community are invited to enjoy a free afternoon of live entertainment, face painting and side show games, from Splat a Rat and Hoopla to Pin the Tail on the Donkey.
There will also be a café selling cakes and refreshments and all proceeds from that, a raffle, tombola and Wheel of Fortune game, will go to support George’s fundraising efforts.
George, from Plains Farm, is hoping to spend a month in Kenya in 2025 with Camps International, learning about and implementing a variety of projects and measures designed to improve living standards and sustainability in remote areas.
His teaching assistant mum, Kayleigh, said: “That’s just the sort of boy he is. He’s really helpful. In fact, I have three kids and he’s just an unreal child; he’s always helping other people.
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Hide Ad“He’s almost halfway to his target already and I’m actually overwhelmed that Belle Vue House has offered to help him. It’s made me quite emotional.”
Each year Belle Vue House residents choose which charity they would like to support.
“When they heard what George was trying to achieve, they were unanimous in wanting to help him,” said manager Alison Oliver.
"Their view was that he is trying to help people he has never even met and the least they could do was help him do that."
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Hide Ad“People often think care home residents are slightly shut off from the rest of the world, but that’s very much not the case here. We are right at the heart of everything that’s going on.”
To contribute to George’s fundraising appeal go to https://bit.ly/3Xcdixk
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