Teachers are making one final plea for donations ahead of a vital school trip which faced a cash crisis following the outbreak of potentially toxic mould at CedarBridge Academy.

Organisers are now just $5,000 short of their $100,000 target to send dozens of French students to Senegal and Morocco next Tuesday.

Businesses and church groups have handed over tens of thousands of dollars to the project after teachers appealed for help in last month.

The trip is intended to help pupils improve their language skills and learn about different cultures of French-speaking nations, and is designed to give those from less well-off families the chance they might not otherwise get to broaden their horizons.

It ran into serious financial difficulties after CedarBridge shut so that the much-publicised mould infestation could be tackled, meaning organisers had to cancel a number of fundraising events.

Organisers extend their thanks to those individuals and groups who have helped so far, but are calling for more sponsors to come forward and help make up the remaining funds.

Lisa DeSilva, head of social studies at CedarBridge, said: ?The response to our appeal has been wonderful. So many people have come forward to help ? we have had lots of anonymous donations from companies in Hamilton and churches.

?We are going to send letters of thanks to everyone who has helped us out.

?But we?re still another $5,000 short of the amount we need, so we?d like to make one last appeal for people to donate whatever they can.?

Parents have volunteered to contribute as much as possible.

The school was closed by Minister of Education Randy Horton on November 1 last year, amid fears the buildings were not safe for students and teachers.

While the school was shut, students were re-assigned to either the Bermuda College in Paget or the old Berkeley Institute in Pembroke. They returned to CedarBridge at the start of last month.

A handful of teachers lodged complaints declaring that the mouldy facilities made them sick and vowed not to return even though an estimated $4 million was spent to disinfect the campus.

The lawyer acting for three of the complainants said last month that the matter was now being dealt with by Government?s chief legal adviser.

Teachers have set up a Bank of Bermuda account for the African trip, with the account number 010730208001. Anyone who wants to make a donation should telephone Ms De Silva on 295-5665 ext. 1072 or email ldesilvacedarbridge.doe.bm or rmatthewscedarbridge.doe.bm