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School on a roll to help kids wheelchair charity

Callum HunterSouth Western Times
Year 2 student Abbey Taylor and Year 3 student Nicholas Stampone say their class is leading the school wide competition.
Camera IconYear 2 student Abbey Taylor and Year 3 student Nicholas Stampone say their class is leading the school wide competition. Credit: Callum Hunter

St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Waroona has thrown its support behind Wheelchairs for Kids with a school-wide competition.

Each class was tasked with collecting metal ring-pulls off aluminium cans that will be donated to the charity at the end of the school year.

School principal Travis Bienkowski said the school had taken part in the program before and the inter-class competition had generated a lot of enthusiasm.

“Every class has a water container to slowly fill up,” he said.

“At the end of the year we want Wheelchairs for Kids to come out and talk about the whole process with our kids.

“In the meantime, we’re just raising ring-pulls.”

Wheelchairs for Kids was founded by the Rotary Club of Scarborough and supported by the Christian Brothers in Perth.

Almost 350 wheelchairs are produced each month and donated to disabled children in third world and underprivileged countries.

“25kg of these ring caps can make one wheelchair,” Year 3 student Nicholas Stampone said.

“It’s awesome and exciting we can contribute to the Wheelchairs for Kids project.”

Class 2/3 has taken the lead in the competition thanks to a massive contribution from Year 2 student Abbey Taylor who is proud of her effort.

“Thank you St Joseph’s school for letting us collect ring-pulls to help make wheelchairs for the poor,” she said.

The wider community has been encouraged by school staff to contribute to the cause according to Mr Bienkowski, who urged people to hold onto ring-pulls and donate them to the school.

“We don’t want it to be just a school-based fundraiser,” he said.

“We want it out there, so we would love anybody who’s got these at home to bring them in here.”

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