A LESSON in fundraising has today proved a success at an Ipswich school.Pupils and staff at Sprites Primary School, Stonechat Road, have raised £214 for the Evening Star's Lifesaver appeal.

A LESSON in fundraising has today proved a success at an Ipswich school.

Pupils and staff at Sprites Primary School, Stonechat Road, have raised £214 for the Evening Star's Lifesaver appeal.

The cash was collected from parents who attended the school's three Christmas productions.

Shaun Valentine, headteacher, said: “We wanted to put something back into the community and it's important the children gain knowledge about giving to others.

“We are trying to give the children an education about being positive contributors to society, knowing they are quite fortunate themselves and how they can help others.

“The children are always enthusiastic and want to help.”

“We do fundraising for a variety of reasons, mainly to help children-related organisations like the NSPCC, both for children locally and on a wider scale.”

Lifesaver is an appeal to raise £22,000 for a cardiac ultrasound machine for Ipswich Hospital's accident and emergency department.

The machine quickly helps doctors diagnose acute cardiac conditions, including heart failure, and is expected to help around 1,000 people every year.

Currently, the hospital relies on older technology such as x-rays. It has other ultrasound machines in the radiology department but often A&E patients need a scan immediately and the new machine will be on hand 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

The state-of-the-art machine can also do other ultrasound scans besides those for the heart.

To support the appeal, send a cheque made out to Lifesaver: Evening Star Christmas Appeal 2006, to 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 1AN. You can also donate online.

Shoppers at East of England Co-operative Society stores can help by using the special dividend number 977.

WEBLINK

www.spritesprimary.co.uk

www.eveningstar.co.uk/lifesaver