CLASSMATES have helped a cricketer to make a difference to underprivileged children in South Africa.
Rob Jones, who is studying BTEC Performance and Excellence Level 3, and his friends at Priestley College hope to have raised as much as £200 during a sponsored run that took place on Friday.
The money will pay for colouring pencils and notebooks, which Rob plans to deliver to schools in some of the poorest areas of South Africa when he represents the England Development U17s team on a 22-day cricket tour.
“We played in India last year and worked with 50 kids from the slums giving them a cricket day with a packed lunch and t-shirts,” he said.
“They absolutely loved it and it was one of the most rewarding days of my life, I want to do the same for the children we meet in South Africa.”
Rob, who first played team cricket for Stretton but now plays for Toft in Knutsford, travels to South Africa in February with 17 other boys on the England Performance Programme.
As well as play matches, train and keep up with college work, the teenagers will be setting up a cricket day for local youngsters.
Money raised by more than a dozen students at Priestley College will help pay for vital provisions for the local schools.
“It was great that everyone in my class agreed to help because it will make a difference,” said Rob, who is 17 and from Stockton Heath.
