Pupils at a north-east school put on a pitch perfect show yesterday to help raise cash for The ARCHIE Foundation’s appeal to support the only surgical ward in Uganda.
Students from Robert Gordon College in Aberdeen held their own version of the hit US show Lip Sync Battle, where celebrities mime along to popular songs to see who can match the original version best.
From Queen’s We Will Rock You to renditions of Aqua’s one hit wonder Barbie Girl, the youngsters belted their hearts out to raise cash for next week’s ARCHIE in Africa Day.
Every year the charity takes one day away from supporting the children of the north and north-east to encourage school pupils across the region to raise vital funds for Uganda’s first operating theatre specifically for young patients.
So far the appeal has helped save more than 300 young lives in the African country, and this year the charity is appealing for pupils and students across all schools in the north-east to do whatever they can to help the cause on Thursday.
RGC maths teacher Vicky Fletcher said their unusual fundraiser idea struck all the right notes with children.
Mrs Fletcher said: “We loved the idea, the pupils had so much fun.
“Last year The ARCHIE Foundation created the first ever paediatric operating theatre and surgical ward in Mulago Hospital, Uganda, with surprisingly little money, and it has been saving lives ever since.
“We think that is amazing and have been very happy to help again this year in order to keep that surgical ward going.”
Emma Slessor, a fundraising manger from the charity and coordinator of the ARCHIE in Africa day, said: “The ARCHIE
Foundation has a policy of always spending money it raises helping local sick children in the area in which it is donated.
“When we were asked to help these children in Uganda who so need it, we asked children all over the Grampian region and the northern isles to raise this money specially for ARCHIE in Africa on this one day a year.
“Next Thursday there will be lots happening in dozens of schools and youth groups, so if you hear of one near you, please give generously to them.”