Saving Lives for Lepra

At a time when money is tight, generous Notre Dame students have raised £4000 for Lepra Health in Action, a total that will help cure 160 people of leprosy.

Lepra is a charity working to treat leprosy and restore health, hope and dignity worldwide by bridging gaps in health care and poverty. Leprosy is a curable disease but many people who contract it find themselves suffering from isolation as people shun them because of the disease.

Lepra was chosen by students at the school to be supported during the autumn term. Student Lucia Auguste, the leader of the students’ charity Make a Difference group explained how the decision was made: ‘The school gets lots of requests from charities and we decided to look to support one main charity at a time and make a big difference’.

Lepra’s local representative Barbara Tinsley visited the school and spoke about the work of the charity and explained their ‘£25 can save a life’ campaign. She then set the school the challenge of raising enough to cure 100 people. It was one that students responded to with real passion, taking an envelope home, talking about the disease and getting family and friends to donate.

Barbara said, ‘I have been amazed at the response. The students have really taken the work of Lepra to their hearts. The total raised is more than I would ever have expected’.

Headteacher Fiona Hutchings said, ‘The key to success was knowing that just £25 could cure someone – everyone felt that they could contribute to making a real difference. I am really proud of our students’ efforts and would like to thank everyone - parents, grandparents, friends - who donated’.