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Pupils raise more than £700 for library by reading at school for 24 hours
Top childrens authors lent their support to the readathon, which included a poetry slam and ghost stories by the campfire
Pupils at Down Ampney Primary School raised more than £700 during a 24-hour sponsored readathon to raise money for new books for their library.
The children started reading at 9am on Friday, 25th, with the older pupils continuing to read throughout the night at the school in Down Ampney village.
Down Ampney headteacher Rebecca Gray said: What a truly amazing 24 hours. The readathon was filled with laughter, excitement, exploration, awe and wonder. The night was filled with campfires, ghost stories, poetry slams and very little sleep. The whole school came together to make memories that we hope the children will remember fondly.
Jamie Littler, best-selling author of the Frostheart series, sent the children a video message during the event congratulating them on their efforts. He said: I heard you guys are doing an amazing event to raise money for your school library by reading all night. You guys are going to smash this challenge. It sounds like a lot of fun, and you are doing it for a great cause. I believe in you. Good luck!
Costa Childrens Book Award winner Katherine Rundell, who wrote The Explorer, a class reading book, said: Congratulations on your magnificent Readathon! I really do believe that books are the best possible way to go on an adventure when we cant move around much: with every book, your imagination gets tougher and bolder, and you get a little sharper and swifter, and the world gets a little larger. Bravo on all your work and dedication: I hope you all feel very proud.
Katya Balen, author of the Carnegie Medal shortlisted novel October, October, wrote to the children saying: Congratulations on taking part in such a brilliant event! Its wonderful that youre all doing something so special to fill your library with books. I hope you get to have at least one midnight feast (ideally six) and that youre very nice to your excellent teachers. Happy reading!
The pupils in each class had a wish list of 24 books that they would like to purchase from the proceeds of the sponsored readathon. The success of the readathon means that they can buy all of them and more.