ACS Cobham International School raised a staggering £7,000 for charity at its annual Party for the Planet event earlier this month.

The school, based in Portsmouth Road, held the fundraiser on Sunday, May 10, for numerous charities, including the Namibia 2009 Project and Disaster Relief Fund.

The event was attended by approximately 1,500 students, parents and staff, as well as the now ex-Mayor of Elmbridge Councillor Nigel Cooper.

The theme of this year’s party was food and guests were invited to visit the international food court to sample food from 15 countries, including Brazil, Denmark, Israel and Japan.

A simulated refugee tent set-up by aid organisation Medecins Sans Frontieres was erected to educate the students about the experiences of refugees. A second tent, which was more light-hearted, contained a fortune-teller.

Other activities included human table football and an inflatable assault course, as well as some food-recyling themed games.

Allan Scott, chairman of the organising committee, said: “The day was a great success and the variety of activities meant there was something for everyone to enjoy.

"Many of the students also got involved by providing entertainment on the main stage and helping to run the games and assist with other fundraising activities.

"We auctioned off a football signed by Chelsea’s first team players for £325.”

Many of the students at the event sported a Feed the World t-shirt, designed by fifth grade student Paula Adamopoulos, which came first in a competition to design a t-shirt representing the event’s theme.

The Namibia Project is particularly close to school’s heart because, each summer, a group of about 20 students and staff from the school volunteer to spend four weeks on a community project in Namibia.

Money raised for the Namibia Project will help renovate classrooms, promote Aids awareness in the country, build a fish farm, purchase a generator and train teachers.

The Disaster Relief Fund raises money to assist Medecins Sans Frontieres in its work in the top 10 humanitarian crises around the world.

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