A CARING student encouraged his fellow pupils to wear Christmas jumpers to raise money for those affected by the Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.

The fundraising day was organised by 11-year-old Costello School pupil Lorenzo Labagnara, who wrote to his headteacher asking if he could help.

Lorenzo was inspired to raise cash by the plight of his six-year-old cousin Enzo, whose home country is the Philippines.

He said: “Imagine having to tell him that he can’t visit his family and home country because it’s been destroyed. Imagine what will be going through his mind.

“He’s only six and he won’t even understand what’s going on. He’s going to be destroyed himself and it makes me want to cry even though it’s not happening to me.”

Lorenzo invited fellow pupils at The Costello School to wear festive themed jumpers in return for a donation to the disaster aid appeal.

And the non-uniform day certainly had a positive effect as £1,691 was raised for the appeal.

Headteacher Julia Mortimore said: “I was touched by Lorenzo’s letter and the fact that he wanted to do something personally to raise funds for the appeal.

“We like to support students when they come forward with ideas. We encouraged him to publicise his event and the cause because it’s so important. It’s typical of many students in this school that they do think about people less fortunate than themselves.”