Shane’s Hill cycle will aid African project

Sixth former Kieran Thompson gave the school bus a miss to cycle to school in Ballymena to raise money for a house building project in Zambia. INLT 19-664-CON

Larne sixth former Kieran Thompson gave the bus a miss to cycle to school in Ballymena from his home in Ballygally recently.

Kieran, a pupil at Slemish College in Ballymena, took on the Shane’s Hill challenge as part of an £800 fundraiser towards a house building project in Zambia.

He is part of a 17-strong group from Slemish College which is preparing to visit Ndola in July. To date, he has raised over £250 sponsorship from school friends, family and neighbours.

Kieran said: “It was quite a work-out getting up Shane’s Hill and my legs were pretty sore by the time I got to school but it will all be worth it when we get to meet those families in Zambia. I am so grateful for all those who have supported me.”

The group is aiming to raise a total of £12,000 to build four new homes for families currently living in shanty accommodation.

The team, led by vice-principal Michael Bennett, will be travelling to Africa with international charity “Habitat for Humanity”, a non=profit Christian movement dedicated to eliminating sub-standard housing and homelessness. Founded in 1976, the agency currently works in 70 countries and has served more than one million families.