SCHOOLGIRLS have raised money for a primary school in Namibia in memory of a Colchester student.

St Mary’s School in Colchester has been collecting funds for the Catherine Bullen Foundation.

The money was handed over to the Good Hope Primary School at Okovimburu in Namibia.

The charity was set up by Catherine Bullen’s parents, Roger and Linda.

Catherine, who was a student at Colchester County High School for Girls, died at the age of 22 from gastroenteritis whilst working in Namibia.

Roger and Linda, from West Mersea, presented the school in Namibia with large cooking pots which were paid for by St Mary’s School.

This new equipment will enable the school to feed pupils in one sitting.

So far more than £4,000 has been raised at the school through fundraising events including cake sales, non-uniform days, car washes and cinema evenings.

Headteacher Hilary Vipond said: “Students at St Mary’s are keen to be involved in their communities and to give their support to charities.

“Several thousand pounds in donations are raised every year by St Mary’s families with fundraising activities co-ordinated by student house officials.

“We are delighted to support the Catherine Bullen Foundation and the amazing humanitarian projects they co-ordinate to help the relief of poverty, sickness and distress and to preserve health in rural Namibia.”