Five-year-old's pocket money to help Sumatran child

A FIVE-YEAR-OLD girl has been saving her own pocket money to help pay for an operation on children in Sumatra who are born with a cleft lip.

Little Freya Drew, who lives in Eaton Socon, decided to put her pocket money towards the costs of surgery after seeing an article about the children in a national newspaper.

The Crosshall Infants School pupil has spent the past five months saving her pocket money and is now close to raising the £150 needed to provide surgery for one child.

Freya's father, Paul Drew, told The Hunts Post: "She saw an article on children with cleft lip in a national newspaper I was reading and asked me to read it to her.

"At least once a week since then she has asked what she can do to help the children in the article. We never prompted her and she never forgot about it."

The money will be used by The Children of Sumatra charity, which was set up in 2002, to help the children whose families are too poor to pay for the operation.

Children with a cleft lip or palate have a gap between their nose and mouth. The condition can lead to problems with eating, speech and hearing.

It is estimated that about one in every 300 children in Sumatra - part of Indonesia - are born with a cleft lip.

"I am personally inspired by Freya's commitment and unselfishness particularly as she is only five-years-old," said Mr Drew. "She has been so adamant in wanting to help these children.

"She has been saving pocket money, cleaning her room, studying for spelling tests and trying really hard at swimming lessons and exercise classes.

"She has saved any Christmas money and said 'don't buy me a present, give me the money to help a little child.'"

INFORMATION: To find out more about the work of the Children of Samatra charity or to make a donation, visit www.childrenofsumatra.org