Wyke Regis sisters have sweet idea to aid troops (From Dorset Echo)

Wyke Regis sisters have sweet idea to aid troops

10:05am Friday 10th February 2012 in News By Emma Walker

TWO schoolgirls decided to collect left over Christmas goodies to help boost the morale of troops.

Sisters Summa and Auorla Taylor-Phelps, aged 12 and 10, of Wyke Regis, came up with the idea to send parcels of leftover chocolate and sweets to troops stationed in Afghanistan.

Summa, who is in year eight at All Saints Second-ary School, said: “Our stepdad was out in Af-ghanistan last year for seven months and we sent him chocolates and sweets.

“That’s how we came up with the idea to send boxes out to other men and women currently serving.”

Auorla, who is in year six at Wyke Regis Junior School, said: “We organised collections at our schools and we have made these boxes to send to the soldiers because we thought they needed a little treat to keep their spirits up.”

The girls distributed posters around their schools asking for donations from pupils from which the girls filled a total of eight shoe-boxes.

Clive Faircloth, Deputy Headteacher of All Saints Secondary School, said: “It is an exciting and original idea that the girls have had.

“The school is supporting them as much as we can.”

Step-dad Lee Bruin served in Helmand Province, based in Camp Bastion, where the girls sent him boxes full of treats each week to share with his roommates.

He said: “The parcels were a fantastic boost to my morale. “They kept me going and let me know that people back home were thinking of me.

“The fact the girls have taken their own initiative and organised these parcels for other servicemen and women has made me extremely proud of them.”

Mr Bruin encouraged the girls to send the parcels to those areas in Afghanistan where troops are living off ration packs.

The girls’ mum Lara Taylor-Phelps said last year was an extremely hard time for her and the girls with their step-dad out in Afghanistan.

She said: “We are all so very proud of our service men and women and the enormous contributions the girls received demonstrated our continued support.”