TWO students have been making their families proud with their charity fundraising efforts.

Year 11 students Georgina Boyer and Jade Coombs, who attend Beaminster School, approached learning resource centre manager Helen Pinkett to discuss what and how they could support causes close to their hearts.

Georgina said: “At Christmas my Nan passed away in Dorchester hospital. I wasn’t in England at the time and wanted to do something that she would be proud of and to show how much we appreciated the commitment of the staff in intensive care at Dorchester Hospital.

“So I organised a cake sale at school with the help of Mrs Pinkett. I also organised ‘Guess the name of the Teddies’.

“We left the teddies in the LRC for a week with a money collection pot. The total we raised was £46 which I’m sending off to Dorchester Hospital – I know my Nan would be proud of me.”

For her part carnival princess Jade helped run the school’s ‘Love Board’.

Jade said: “As my year of being a carnival princess is nearly over, before I give my tiara back I’m going to try and help as much as I can to raise even more money.

“At school I spoke to Mrs Pinkett to see if I could organise Beaminster’s now famous ‘Love Board’.

“I cut out tiny little hearts and students then pay 25p to write a little message to their loved one. The students really enjoy this time of year at Beaminster.

“I managed to raise £14.80 which will go to Julia’s House Hospice, so I would like to thank everyone who helped me.”

Mrs Pinkett added: “The librarians in the LRC also helped the girls to sell the hearts.

“We had lots of fun and a few blushes.”

Gymnasts take part in sponsored skip

A GROUP of gymnastic girls took part in a sponsored skip to raise funds for a British Olympic team.

Around 20 members of the Dorchester Rhythmic Gymnastics Group took part in The Big Skip which saw them rope-skipping on the spot for one hour.

Barbara Bailey, who coaches the group, said: “The girls skipped for two minutes, had a one-minute break and kept going until they’d skipped for an hour in total.

“It was totally exhausting for them but it’s good to do something for someone else for a change.”

She added: “When they did a 10-minute practice the other day they were absolutely exhausted, doing the hour was a real struggle but they managed in the end.

“It’s a good challenge for them.”

The national event was set up to raise money for the British Senior Rhythmic Gymnastic Group, who will be the first ever rhythmic group to represent Britain at the Olympics this summer.

Mrs Bailey said: “The group are entirely self-funded and have asked people to raise funds for them because they need money to pay for their training, equipment and transport.”