By Charlene Macaulay
These two bookworms have made a motza out of reading books.
Grade 5 Lumen Christi Catholic Primary School pupil Makaira and grade 1 pupil Nicolas are the country’s highest and second-highest individual fundraisers in this year’s MS Readathon, raising $6153 and $3438 respectively.
Their combined efforts helped Lumen Christi become the top fundraising school in Australia, raising more than $19,000 and beating second-placed Sydney Grammar (which raised $13,905) by a considerable margin.
As a reward, the students each received an iPad, while the school will get new books valued at $1000 for their library.
It’s the sixth consecutive year Makaira, whose mum Bec has multiple sclerosis, has raised more than $6000 during the MS Readathon.
Makaira said she raised the money through a Bunnings barbecue, a morning tea at her dad’s work, and asking for donations through social media.
Nicolas, who read 178 books over the month-long challenge, said his mum helped him to raise the money.
“I felt really crazy [to have raised that much money],” he said.
He hopes to raise $5000 next year.
Lumen Christi literacy leader Miriam Collins said more than 90 students across prep to grade 6 took part in this year’s effort.
