CARING primary school pupils have put their young hearts into raising cash for a brave little cancer sufferer and others like her all this week.

The youngsters from St John's CE School, Coppull, are taking part in a week of fund-raising for Royal Manchester Children's Hospital's Mend a Broken Wing Appeal.

They have been touched by the plight of seven-year-old Ruth Smyth whose mum Suzanne has been a teaching assistant at the Preston Road school for the past two years.

Ruth, who was diagnosed with cancer in September, attends the hospital for treatment.

The pupils have this week held a keep-fit breakfast, a non-uniform day and a bring and buy sale for the £800,000 appeal to revamp a children's ward at the hospital.

They even made their own cakes and biscuits to sell, displaying touching signs such as "Jam tarts - 10p each for Ruth's hospital."

"The children have really taken it on board," said head teacher Christine Cranfield.

"Someone from the appeal came along last week to introduce the scheme and we really thought about what we could do to help."

It is hoped Ruth, who attended St Laurence's CE School, Chorley, before falling ill, will be well enough to pop into St John's either today (Thursday) or tomorrow to join in the fun.

She has already met Manchester United stars and some of the cast from Coronation Street.

And appeal organisers have promised St John's that a celebrity will visit the school to receive the cash from their fabulous fund-raising efforts

Meanwhile Suzanne and husband Sam, of Bannerman Terrace, have most of their time taken up with hospital visits and caring for their other two daughters Rebecca and Rachel.

Anyone wishing to make a donation can contact Mrs Cranfield on 01257 791403.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.