Big-hearted pupils turn a penny into pounds

May 26 2009 by Bryan Brough, Paisley Daily Express

CARING pupils at a Paisley school felt heart sorry for unlucky charity worker Marianne Wong when she went on the popular Deal or No Deal TV game show and won a mere PENNY for her efforts.

After the teenagers from St Andrew’s Academy watched her miss out on big cash they decided to do their own fundraising stint.

Within a short space of time and a lot of hard work the youngsters coined in a fantastic £2,000 plus.

Now all the money has been presented to Marianne who will hand it over to Kenya Aid to buy a lifesaving piece of machinery for a children’s hospital.

A spokesman at the town’s Barrhead Road secondary said: “The pupils were delighted when they heard Marianne was on the fun show.

“Any money Marianne would have won was going to the Kenya Aid charity. But to pick the No Eight red box with just a penny in it was very disappointing.

“Pupils here know Marianne from previous visits to the school and they decided to raise money for her charity.

“We have supported her and her charity for a number of years and heard reports from her visits to an orphanage in Malinde in Kenya.”

Marianne was a contestant on the Noel Edmonds Deal or No Deal Channel Four game show of few months ago.

And she had high hopes of winning a jackpot sum for charity.

But Lady Luck ran out for her and instead of a big cash win she became a member of the 1p club.

The school spokesman added: “The pupils wanted to support Marianne and help her buy breathing apparatus for the hospital which looks after sick children in Malinde.

“So, the teenagers bought more than 1000 wooden keyrings and other items which had been handcrafted in the village. And their enterprising move proved very successful.”

The total raised was £2,150. At the presentation ceremony a thrilled Marianne said: “St Andrew’s Academy is very close to my heart. The generosity of the pupils has helped me to carry on in my work.

“This will enable me to purchase the breathing equipment for the hospital in Malinde.”