Pupils star struck as Simon makes surprise charity launch

CHARTOPPER Simon Casey drove hundreds of children wild when he made a surprise visit to their school to highlight a nationwide fundraiser.

Teachers at the national school in Dublin kept the idol’s arrival a secret until he walked into the assembly hall yesterday to the amazement of pupils who were supporting Wrangler-sponsored Denim Day.

Adoring children at St Brigid’s National School in Glasnevin mobbed the You’re a Star finalist and went wild with delight when he said he’d sing his number one hit single “A Better Plan”.

A big screen with the words of the song on it was then turned on and the pupils did a sing-along karaoke style with the heartthrob who was decked out in Wrangler gear.

The majority of the pupils at St Brigid’s paid €2 each for the privilege of leaving their uniforms at home, raising approximately 700.

“It was great to see so many smiles on the children’s faces and to have an opportunity at the same time to raise money for such a worthy cause,” Simon said.

More than 2,500 schools and businesses around the country supported the fundraiser in aid of disadvantaged Irish children.

All the money raised will go to the Irish Youth Foundation to help alleviate poverty which is suffered by an astonishing 24% of Irish children.

A spokesman for the IYF said there are 1.08 million children under 18 in Ireland, representing 28% of the population.

Despite our economic growth many children still live in communities ravaged by drugs and crime, the spokesman said.

Denim Day is the IYF’s biggest annual fundraiser. Last year the venture helped raise more than €150,000 which benefited children across Ireland through the work of such groups of the Aisling Project, Focus Ireland, Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin and the Family Ministry.

This year members of the public can make a donationby texting DENIM DAY to 57502 with their pledge.