By Pamela McGowan

Last updated at 16:19, Friday, 04 June 2010

More than 20 years after they left school, former classmates in Carlisle came back together to help raise funds for a young meningitis victim.

Front row, from left, organiser Jo Swanton, Kim Story, Olivia Story, Mike Story, Amber Story and Emily Swanton. Back row, from left, Jordan Grieve (Emily's brother) and Joshua Story. Jo Swanton presents the cheque to Olivia

The 1980s reunion saw around 180 former Harraby Secondary School pupils reunited at a charity night for six-year-old Olivia Story.

And organiser Jo Swanton was so touched after meeting the Carlisle youngster – who lost both legs and one arm to meningitis when she was a toddler – she has now decided to become a regular sponsor.

The Dalston-based mobile hairdresser plans to donate £10 from every wedding she is booked for to Olivia’s trust fund, to help pay for new false limbs as she gets older.

Jo, who was in the class of 1987/8 at the Harraby school, said she heard about Olivia through the social networking site Facebook and immediately wanted to help her.

She was already planning the reunion at Harraby Catholic Club so she decided to widen it to include those who were pupils at any time in the 1980s and donate the proceeds.

She roped in local entertainer Stevie Las Vegas, who is already a sponsor of Olivia, to add to the atmosphere.

The reunion took place on April 30 and was a huge success, raising over £900. Now she plans to make it an annual event, each year raising more money for the youngster – whose parents have set up a trust fund so they can buy her the most realistic prosthetic limbs when she gets older. Jo, who runs Jomark, said having now met Olivia, she is even more inspired to help.

“She is just so brave,” she said. “She’s gone through more in a few years than most people go through their entire lives, yet she doesn’t let it affect her.

“She’s still only young but she realises what people do for her and appreciates it. I’ve got to know the family through the reunion and want to do more to help them,” she said.

In total Jo has handed over £907.10 to Olivia’s fund and hopes to raise more during the summer wedding season. She added that the reunion itself was such a success she has already booked the venue for next year – on April 29 – and plans to have one on the last Friday of April each year.

“It was nice to catch up with everyone from Harraby and see everyone from school. Some of them looked really different but some hadn’t changed at all.

“It was really well supported and a lot of those who couldn’t make it still sent cheques. It was a great night” she added.

Jo thanked everyone who donated raffle prizes and Stevie Las Vegas for performing.

First published at 14:08, Friday, 04 June 2010
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk