CHILDREN at Rowledge Primary School are wishing deputy head Lindsey Chivers success on March 13 when she joins the mass start of the Surrey Half Marathon .

Lindsey, who has been in strict training since last year, wants to achieve a good time, but mostly she wants to help a favourite orphanages charity in India.

The charity is locally-based Chiks (Children’s Homes in Kerala State). And another supporter is also fundraising for Chiks in March - only she will be leaping out of an aircraft at 15,000 feet - and that doesn’t offer practise runs!

Angela O’Callaghan is married with two boys, and she and her husband, David, have been sponsoring a boy at one of Chiks’ orphanages for a number of years. Angela said of small but ever-active charity Chiks: “They do such fantastic work and have transformed many lives. Funding for all they do is always in short supply so I thought I’d do a sponsored parachute jump.”

She added that her boys asked if they could join her - to ensure she left the aircraft!

“It is scheduled for March 5 near Salisbury and I’d be grateful for support. So if anyone would like to help me make my terrifying  jump worthwhile, click on to www.justgiving.com/Angela-O-Callaghan2”

If Angela’s fundraiser could be delayed because of the weather, Lindsey’s road run from Woking will of course go ahead whatever the conditions. Her children, aged three and six, will be adding their cheers to those of their mum’s pupils. And all the children and their parents are hoping a lot of money will to go to Robin Radley, Chiks’ founder, who is targeting improved self-sufficiency for the orphanages in SW India.

Lindsey said: “I have come to appreciate the wonderful work that Robin and his team do and am in awe of the way in which Chiks is changing so many children’s lives in India.”

Well-wishers can click on www.justgiving.com/Lindsey-Chivers2