St Patrick’s kids go extra mile to swell charity funds

Acting debut in video launch

St Patrick’s Primary pupils made their acting debut and went the extra mile at a charity event in Coatbridge.

The school’s youngsters were in an array of colourful costumes to represent individual continents, at the launch of Missio Scotland’s new Mile for Mission fundraiser, hosted at Albion Rovers’ Cliftonhill ground.

And the charity’s fundraising manager Kerry Shearer and communications officer Gerard Gough were also joined by Rovers’ coach Tony McMinn to film a special video to mark the initiative’s launch.

Missio Scotland is the Scottish branch of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) – the Pope’s own charity and official mission aid agency.

And the pupils were on a mission as they demonstrated their acting skills and learned more about the charity.

Kerry said: “The schoolchildren were an absolute joy to work with on the day, bringing colour and vibrancy to the video and their support was greatly appreciated.

“We are always extremely proud of the work that our Catholic school communities undertake in raising funds for Missio Scotland and we hope that they’ll continue that work by getting involved with the Mile for Mission fundraiser.”

The initiative aims to raise awareness of the struggles children living in mission territories face daily, by engaging schoolchildren in a range of fun activities.

And during October the charity is asking primary schools in Scotland to hold a Mile for Mission fundraiser.

The concept is simple for schools — to measure a mile in their play areas and co-ordinate pupils to walk a mile, with donations raised for the charity.

Each mission continent is represented by a particular colour, which pupils or classes can choose to wear as part of their fundraisers. The money raised will go to the Missionary Children branch of the PMS, whose motto is “Children helping children” – helping to build clinics, supply medicines and nutritional help, and support educational projects for children worldwide.

Mission accomplished St Patrick’s pupils at the fundraiser launch