Primary pupils put pen to paper to help others
‘The Adventures of Cad and Mud’help homeless
FRASER WILSON
Two Eaglesham Primary pupils have been doing their bit to raise money to tackle homelessness.
And they may just have done their bit to restore some faith in humanity too.
In difficult times, Calum MacKenzie and Murray Black have been writing and selling stories door-to-door after exposure to the harsh realities of homelessness.
Upset by what they saw, the boys decided they wanted to do their bit to help, penning a special edition of their adventure series to raise money.
That saw them hawk the latest edition of their short stories to locals for 50p a pop.
And their efforts to help those less well-off have borne fruit, with their sold out stories raising a healthy £10.35 for homeless charity, Shelter.
Calum’s mum Nicola told the News: “Calum and Murray have known each other since they were toddlers and are quite a double act.
“They’re fortunate enough to be part of a very close wee group of boys who all live on the street or nearby.
“Both of them had spotted some homeless people who were looking for help and support on the streets.
“They were feeling sorry for people who had to sleep outside as it has been so wet and cold recently.”
‘The Adventures of Cad and Mud’ is a series of stories put together by the two nine-yearold best pals, that perfectly encapsulates the wild imagination of school kids.
Having printed off 12 copies at Eaglesham Library, the boys went door-to-door to share their plight.
With a tug of the heartstrings and whip of a salesman’s tongue, they managed sell-out, even earning a little extra for the charity.
Pupils in Mr Mullins’ P5 class, the boys enjoy writing books at school during wet playtimes and intervals.
Along with classmates, they recently celebrated World Book Day by creating a ‘book in a box’ project at school.
Calum spends hours at home creating stories and scenarios, having written several, whilst Murray too enjoys writing – he particularly likes reading David Walliams also Roahl Dahl books.
With fame and stardom no doubt on the horizon, what’s next for the authors and salesmen?
Well, having written eight books already, their captive audience can expect more in the coming months.
Nicola added: “I don’t think Mr Mullins knows what he has created.
“Both boys thoroughly enjoy his class though and clearly literacy is a favourite subject
“Apparently there may be more to come with a summer bumper edition due out shortly.”
Graeme Brown, director of Shelter Scotland, said: “We are delighted to hear about the efforts of Calum and Murray and would like to thank them and their customers for their creativity and donations.
“Shelter Scotland can only continue to campaign and offer advice to people whose housing rights are broken because of kindhearted people raising funds in their communities.
“This is a genuinely heartwarming tale.”