A VILLAGE’S vigil for the people of Ukraine has inspired an 11-year-old girl to raise more than £2,160 for Unicef’s Ukraine Appeal.
Charlotte Saunders attended the vigil in Ipplepen with her mum, Emma.
More than 50 villagers turned out to one of the first such vigils held across Teignbridge last Tuesday.
Charlotte, a Year 7 at Newton Abbot College, said: ‘I was watching the news on the telly before that and I felt like I just wanted to do something as I felt so sorry for the children who have to go into bomb shelters every night.’
When she heard there was a vigil being held in Ipplepen, Charlotte was determined to go in spite of the terrible weather.
‘We said some prayers and everyone there felt like they had to do something to help the people of Ukraine.’
Walking home Charlotte and her mum came up with the idea of putting her Christmas present of a sewing machine to good use to raise funds for Unicef’s Ukraine Appeal.
‘We decided to make flags of Ukraine and sell them to raise funds for the people there,’ added Charlotte.
They took advice from Percy’s haberdashery shop in Newton Abbot and set to work on Wednesday night.
Emma said: ‘We put out a post on our village Facebook page saying what Charlotte was doing and she soon had a few orders.
‘She has been sewing in the evenings and at the weekend and then going out after school on her bike to deliver the flags to those in the village who wanted them.
‘The people of Ipplepen have been amazingly supportive and generous and in excess of 120 flags have been made since Wednesday.’
Two of the donations received have been for £500.
‘Her dad and I are immensely proud of her. She has shown real resilience and dedication to the cause and it is wonderful to know that the donations she has collected will be benefitting children and families in the Ukraine.’
Ipplepen resident Ingrid Marsh, who took pictures at the vigil, said: ‘Charlotte has done such an inspirational thing for the refugees, she’s a credit to the village.’
You can find out more about Charlotte’s fundraiser on her Justgiving page at:
http://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Emma-Saunders38