Walkathon for PNG

At their Mission Action Day, students from St James College East Bentleigh have pitched in to raise thousands of dollars for a training centre in Papua New Guinea through a seven kilometre walkathon.

Students were asked to raise a minimum of 30 dollars each in sponsorship as part of their fundraising efforts for the Hohola Youth Development Centre in PNG.

The Lasallian run centre provides vocational training for senior students to help them break out of the cycle of poverty and unemployment in Port Moresby.

The school has set itself a target of 20 thousand dollars this year to help the training centre.

The Principal of St James College, Stephen Pooley said he was proud to see some students raise as much as 700 dollars towards such a worthy cause.

"Alongside the walkathon, students also organised a Hohola Cup Indoor Soccer tournament, raffles and sausage sizzles", Mr Poole said.

In previous years, the money St James College has raised has been directed towards purchasing a bus to help students get to the Hohola Centre safely for their classes.

The Melbourne school has also helped fund new computers and sporting equipment for the PNG centre.