A vital school trip is facing a cash crisis after fund-raising events were scrapped due to the outbreak of potentially toxic mould at CedarBridge Academy.

CedarBridge teachers had arranged for dozens of French students to fly out to Senegal and Morocco where they could improve their language skills and experience the different cultures of French-speaking nations.

It was hoped the trek, due to take place next month, would give children from less well-off families the chance they might not otherwise get to broaden their horizons.

However, when the school shut so that the much-publicised mould infestation could be tackled, organisers were forced to cancel a number of events aimed at generating cash.

It means they currently have just $46,000 in the coffers ? less than half of the $115,000 in total.

Organisers have made a desperate plea for businesses and other groups to help raise cash to sponsor the two-week trip.

They say they are determined the cash will be found from somewhere and the outing will go ahead on February 13. Parents have volunteered to contribute as much as they can.

Lisa De Silva, head of social studies at CedarBridge, said: ?It?s been very frustrating trying to get this trip on and with the school being closed it?s been difficult to plan anything or get where we want to be.

?Obviously as some of the fundraising events were going to take place in the school they had to be cancelled when it was closed.

?We are a long way short of the money we need. Parents have said they will contribute cash themselves, but we have a lot of students hoping to go whose parents will find it very difficult. In some ways, those students are the ones who would benefit the most. Chances like these don?t come along very often.

?We are hoping some Good Samaritans out there will come forward and help us out.?

Fundraising events which were cancelled include food-tasting sessions and a talent show.

Ms De Silva said the trip was crucial to pupils? development.

?Traditionally, our students have gone on a foreign language trip,? she said. ?This year we felt exposing them to other French-speaking countries in Africa would really help them.

?They could learn about their culture ? how people live in other parts of the world ? as well as improving their ability to speak the language. The media students would also be producing a documentary which we could put on our website, so this trip is important on so many levels.

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

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.

Students were re-assigned to either the Bermuda College in Paget or the old Berkeley Institute in Pembroke before they returned to CedarBridge at the start of this month.

Teachers are in the process of setting up a special bank account for the project.

?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