Businesswomen pack bags for charity at Hatfield Tesco

A GROUP of Hertfordshire businesswomen spent a day helping shoppers pack their bags – so that they can travel to Africa to help underprivileged schoolchildren.

The 12 women – Sarah Smits, Carolyn Pickering, Lisa Symons, Tracey Morris, Jacqueline East, Deborah Negri, Janet Aldred, Helen Lane, Amanda Brown, Aurelia Lecchi, Diane Meeson and Marslie Smits – are all heading to Tanzania in September, at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, to help renovate an under-funded school with Childreach International.

Before they go, each of them needs to raise �2,200, and they got their fundraising under way at Tesco in Hatfield by offering to pack shoppers bags in return for a donation. In total, they raised �436.

“People were very supportive,” said Helen Lane, 40, a Subway franchise-holder from Waltham Abbey.

“It’s normally something children do, so it was a bit weird at first.

“Some people said they would pack their own bags, but donated money anyway because it’s such a good cause.”