Principals challenged to take on freezing fundraiser

Earlview PS pupils Charlie McClenaghan (left) and Daniel Stewart are only too happy to give principal Raymond Smyth a helping hand with his ice bucket challenge. INNT 37-510CON

The gauntlet was thrown down by Earlview Primary School principal Raymond Smyth as he got ready to take a sub-zero soaking on Friday morning, September 5.

Excited pupils, staff and parents gathered in the playground at the New Mossley school to watch Mr Smyth get drenched with buckets of freezing cold water. And it was hard to tell who enjoyed the event more - the cheering children or the staff members who were only too eager to dish out the drenching.

Mr Smyth was nominated for the challenge by P4 pupil Charlie McClenaghan and P2 pupil Daniel Stewart, who have both completed their own ice bucket challenges.

Thanking Charlie and Daniel for the nominations, Mr Smyth went on to challenge every other local primary school headteacher to complete their own freezing fundraiser.

“I would like to nominate all the primary school principals in Newtownabbey,” he said to loud cheers from staff and pupils. “So if you know anybody who is a primary school principal on Facebook, please make sure they receive this.”

The video of Mr Smyth’s challenge got quite a reaction on the Newtownabbey Times Facebook page - facebook.com/Newtownabbeytimes - with many people praising him for being such a good sport.

The Earlview Primary event raised £200 for the Northern Ireland Hospice. And Mr Smyth thanked everyone who donated.

“It went really well and it was for a good cause. We will be handing the money over to the Hospice very soon,” he told the Times a few days after completing his challenge.

“It’s about memories for the children as well and they absolutely loved it. It was one girl’s birthday and she said it was the best birthday party she’d ever had, so that was nice.”

The ice bucket challenge craze has been a massive online hit, with millions of people around the world posting videos of themselves getting soaked with icy water and nominating friends to do likewise - all in the name of raising money for good causes.

• Watch the Earlview PS ice bucket challenge video by clicking here.