Horndean pupil, seven, asks school to hold cake sale to help animals in Australia - and raises hundreds

After seeing clips on CBBC Newsround of the devastation caused by bushfires, Year 2 pupil Amy Newell decided she wanted to do something to help and took her own initiative to make a difference.

Animal lover Amy wrote a short letter to her school, Horndean Infants, asking permission to hold a cake sale after school to raise money ‘because the fires are burning animals and houses’.

The school in Merchistoun Road was more than happy to help the Year 2 pupil raise funds for the WWF Australia Bushfire Emergency fund, and the generosity of parents, pupils and teachers led to the event being a massive success.

Headteacher Jacqui Ralphson said: ‘We have all seen how Australia is suffering from devastating wildfires which have ravaged communities and wildlife.

‘I'm really proud that our children think about global issues and have such huge hearts in wanting to help and Amy is a superb role model for this.’

Amy, who is in Australia class at the school, enlisted a group of her friends to sell cakes that all the school children donated, including a big koala cake which was donated by Hannah List, a previous parent of Horndean Infant School.

The artistic creation was auctioned off during the bake sale and brought in £30 towards the total, with other small cakes selling very quickly for 20p or six for £1.

Ivy Clifford, a classmate of Amy’s, made an information leaflet about the bushfires and handed these out to people buying the cakes.

Alison Newell, Amy’s mum, said: ‘It was very busy and all the cakes went down well and she raised a grand total of £368.20.’

Alison added: ‘I’m just really proud, Amy always wants to help people.

‘She is really pleased, she was really excited.’

Amy would like to thank all her friends for helping at the sale and to everyone for all the kind donations of money and cakes, which helped raise this amount for the charity.