Street kids benefit from teacher's 50th celebration

Jun 21 2010 By Jack Abell

ruth longley Image 1

A GENEROUS teacher decided to use her 50th birthday as a way of raising money for street children in Guatemala.

Ruth Lingley, who celebrated with a party at Chesham Bois Tennis Club, decided to try and raise £1,000 for the charity Street Kids Direct that promotes the plight of street and high risk children in Central America, but ended up managing to raise £1,300.

Mrs Lingley, who is a mother of three, was aiming to raise the money to pay for the education of 10 children in the poverty stricken area.

Guests at the party were invited to make donations to the charity, and Mrs Lingley said that she was delighted with the total raised.

Duncan Dyason, the charity's founder and chair of trustees, attended the event and gave guests examples of the ways in which his organisation helps street children, providing support, encouragement and training to groups and projects in Guatemala and Honduras.

He said: "It brings a tear to your eye when you see young adults graduate as teachers after arriving at the charity so disadvantaged at the age of seven."

Entertainment at the party included a raffle, a curry for all the guests, and music by two different bands.

Mrs Lingley said: "This has taken several months to organise, but it's all been worth while for such a fantastic local charity."