TWO former Wellington School pupils are putting their skills together to help raise money for charity in a festive fundraiser.

Claire McGill and Dr Kate Evans both went to Wellington School in 1985.

Yet, despite their lives taking very different paths, they have always been firm friends and are now hoping to raise £10,000 for Kate’s charity, Elephants for Africa.

If they reach their fundraising goal, they will have the money match donated by one of the charity’s private donors.

Kate, whose family still live in Wellington, says her life has always been about elephants.

“When I was seven, we visited an elephant orphanage in Pakistan. It made me sad and I made a promise to an elephant there that I would redress the balance,”

she said.

“I decided then that I would do everything I could for elephants.

“Elephants capture the imagination.

They’re so intelligent and beautiful.

“They also have many similar qualities to people, especially in the way they care for each other and grieve.

Kate set up her charity in 2007 to help conserve the African elephant in Botswana where the charity’s work is currently taking place.

She added: “The money we raise will allow us to carry out more research to understand the ecological and social requirements of male African elephants and put these into the context of human-wildlife conflict.

“The work also allows us to expand our education programme.

“There is a settlement near the elephants but many of the people have never been on the reserve. We want to educate them so that they grow up wanting to do what they can to protect the elephants too.”

Claire is using her public relations and writing skills to help Kate raise the money she needs.

She said: “I lived in America for three years and was a writer over there and I did some PR work.

“Kate and I met up when I was still living in Baltimore and toyed with the idea of how I could help.

“The work she is doing is wonderful and so vital. We really want as many people to help as possible.

“Even my seven-year-old son Harry is involved. Instead of asking for presents this Christmas, he is making a donation to Kate’s charity and two others.

“It’s amazing what a friendship kindled in Wellington can create and we’re hoping people will reach out to us and donate as much as they can for this wonderful wildlife and conservation charity.”

The person who donates/fundraises the most will receive an original piece of artwork from international author and artist Emma Kaufmann.

To donate visit mydonate.bt.com/events/ efafestivefundraiser or email info@elephantsforafrica.org.

For more on the charity visit elephantsforafrica.org