Neighbours from Heaven

The residents of two streets form a 'fundraising army'. It's like a neighbourhood watch, only better!

Six households in Wilstead, near Bedford got together to raise £16,000 towards building a school in the Dominican Republic. The school will cost £100,000 in total – it’s a sum that long-term MD supporters Andy Smart and Jon Cobb have set themselves to raise.

Andy was explaining their fundraising target to his one of his neighbours, who immediately got ‘very excited’ about the school being built. Sixteen adults and young people from his road, along with a neighbouring street, set to work on a slew of fundraising initiatives.

“It’s been everything from kids doing a £50 sponsored swim to people giving us thousands of pounds.” Explained Andy “I have been blown away by it all. People think community is dead but it’s not in Wilstead.”

The group started with a charity auction and disco which raised the first £7,000. Amongst many other events a team of neighbours joined the demanding Three Peaks Challenge in Yorkshire.

Andy and Jon have so far raised £70,000 which enables building work to commence at the school site. They are hoping to have raised the remaining cash by the end of 2011.