It’s always good to help out your friends and Raya Burgess is doing just that.

Burgess, 12, from Warwick is raising money for her under-13 volleyball team-mates to travel to Boston despite not making the trip herself.

On Saturday, Burgess and a whole team of friends and helpers completed a trash-a-thon in Warwick to raise vital funds for the trip after a similar successful venture helping the coding team.

“One of my other after-school activities is a coding and they did a trash-a-thon to raise funds for a robotic competition,” Burgess said.

“I went away to Florida in December with the team and now they are going to Boston. Since I’m not going away, I’m helping to raise money for those who are and can’t really afford it, to help take some money of their tickets.”

Burgess’s mom Karolyn Darrell is impressed with the altruism of her daughter and by the way the team has rallied round.

“I’m really impressed by the whole team as the first ones to reach out were the members of the team who are not travelling, that was nice to see,” Darrell said.

“I wasn’t sure how it would be recieved but Raya did an amazing job with the coding team helping to raise money even though she wasn’t going.

“She’s been quite eager to get out there and get some pledges under her belt. She set a goal of $100 and she’s met that, but if it gets a bit higher then good on her.

“About 12 to 13 girls were there and the coach offered to get pizza for them after so we’ll make a half-day of it. Keep Bermuda Beautiful has given us bags and gloves, and pickers to help with that. They even gave us some pledge sheets which is great.”

The team travels to Boston for the Nike Volleyball Boston Festival, which takes place from March 3 to 5. Those wishing to help the team should visit the Adopt an Athlete programme on the Bermuda Volleyball Association Website