Pupils back Beijing-bound sports star

12:59pm Tuesday 8th July 2008

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SPORTSWOMAN Zoe Robinson is getting a helping hand for her trip to the Paralympic Games.

For pupils at schools across the borough are busy raising funds to help pay for the 18-year-old athlete and her family to travel to Beijing in September.

Members of union NASUWT (National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers) decided to raise money after meeting Zoe at a conference earlier this year.

They wrote to schools asking them to help and started the fund with a donation of £500.

The first school to respond to the appeal was Tottington Primary School, which Zoe used to attend.

The pupils raised £720 by holding a non-uniform day and cake sales.

Zoe, of Ashington Drive, Lowercroft, visited the school on Monday to collect the money. She answered questions from pupils and demonstrated her sport, boccia.

Other schools are also backing Zoe, with pledges of support from Heaton Park Primary School, Whitefield Primary School, All Saints Primary School, Gorsefield Primary School, Elms Bank High School, Woodhey High School, and Radcliffe Riverside High School.

Pupils from the Pupil Learning Centre, in Summerseat, will pack bags at Asda in Rawtenstall on Friday.

Karen Hopwood, NASUWT’s negotiating secretary in Bury, said: “NASUWT started out trying to raise £4,000 to cover all the costs of helping Zoe on her trip to Beijing. There are lots of things needed, for example spare wheels for Zoe’s chair as any damage to the wheelchair would prevent her from competing.

“Zoe is the only female on the team and the youngest member. She is really inspirational and all her teachers and friends in Bury schools are really proud of her.”