Looe girls 'leg it' for lorry appeal
Cooling ice creams, supplied by the mayor and mayoress, Dave and Annette Bryan, were a welcome relief for two Year 10 pupils from Looe Community School, who walked three legged, for three and a half hours in the heat of Bank Holiday Monday, to raise funds for the Looe Lorry Appeal, to send aid to Kosovan refugees in Albania.
Rebecca Leedham and Giulietta Uccella only came up with their fundraising idea a few days before the holiday break, and set about asking friends, teachers and local businesses, as well as householders in the Plaidy and Sunrising area to sponsor them.
The result was £180 towards the £3,700 needed to fuel the 38 ton lorry which is on standby, ready to take aid from Looe and district directly to Durres. The fuel fund is now over the half way mark with an extra push being needed to collect the final amount. There are collecting jars around the town or cheques can be sent to the mayor at Gibson's Opticians, Fore Street, Looe, made out to the Looe Lorry Appeal.
The girls walk was along the Polperro to Looe coastal footpath, and they found it particularly difficult tied together in the narrow parts, where they had to walk sideways. However, other walkers who came across them were so impressed with their effort that they gave them donations.
Polvellan House, the former residential home owned by Cornwall Council, situated by the Millpool, re-opened on Tuesday as a reception centre for the aid to fill the lorry, and gifts have started to pour in . The appeal is gaining momentum countywide, and soon to be received from the pupils of St Stephens Churchtown Primary School, St. Austell will be 400 shoe boxes, especially for children, filled with toiletries and other items such as colouring crayons and books.
Looe resident Malcolm Barker, who has just arrived back from Albania after co-driving in the Cornish convoy of aid co-ordinated by Newquay Lions, says it is urgent to get donations to the refugees as soon as possible. He said the aid from Looe would go directly to warehouses personally administered by the local mayor and the Albanian pastor and his English wife in Durres.
They are also trying to set up a school so the specially requested list for Looe, directly from Durres, includes wax crayons, pens, pencils, sharpeners, writing books and any suitable play equipment. Also wanted are sleeping bags, mattresses, pots and pans, plastic plates and cups, cutlery, cooking utensils, nappies and toothbrushes.