Two-hundred thousand dollars sounds like a lot of money to raise in one event, but Sandys school kids think they know how to do it ? one step at a time.

Sandys schools, the National Drug Commission and the charity Sandys Beyond 2000 are coming together on Saturday, May 19 for the Inaugural Heritage Walk designed to raise the money for a new school sports complex.

"We are hoping to break ground for the new complex during the rally that will be held after the walk," said Sandys Secondary Middle School principal Melvyn Bassett. "The rally will start at 1 p.m. It will be a rally for supporters of all the schools in the Sandys and Southampton area."

The walk will begin from all the Sandys Schools. Children from some Southampton schools will be bussed to closer locations for their walk.

"We have asked our kids to get at least 14 pledges each," said Mr. Bassett. "If 850 students each collect $250 in sponsorship money, then we should have more than $200,000. This is a major project.

Mr. Bassett said that one of the nice things about the project was that the new sports complex which will include a swimming pool will be used by all the schools in the area.

"Particularly the swimming pool will be available for aquatic programmes daily, for all the schools including pre-schools," said Mr. Bassett. "So it is nice that kids will feel the benefit of the complex as soon as they start their school career. We are aiming to have the building completed in September 2007."

The walk starts off at 11.30 a.m. at various Sandys Schools. For more information or to make a pledge contact Sandys Secondary Middle School at 234-1346.