Saltus Cavendish students presented a cheque for more than $2,000 to the Friends of the Bermuda Library after a two-week project including a read-a-thon and several activities.

Children of Mrs. Wendy Railton's primary three class took on the project after two mothers recommended an activity that would increase reading and benefit Bermuda.

The class took part in trips to round off the project as well as reading pages for donations.

Parents volunteered to assist by coming in for each of the 14-days to run and coordinate the project.

Mothers and a father went to the class to read to the children while others helped children bake goods inspired by the stories they had read.

"It was an overwhelming success.'' said Mrs. Railton.

"I never imagined them to read so many pages and raise so much money.'' The 22 students, aged seven and eight, read more than 5000 pages over the two week period.

"Parents were pleased to see their children coming home and asking to do reading.'' she added.

The project was composed of several activities that the children took part in with help from the parent volunteers.

Activities included reading a recipe in French to bake truffles, poetry reading to the class, book reviews, a field trip to Botanical Gardens and a site visit to the Children's Library.

The work culminated in the class pizza party and a Grub Day when the children got to wear regular clothes.

The total donated money is earmarked for new books at the Bermuda National Youth Library on Church Street.

Friends of the Bermuda National Library is a registered charity, comprised entirely of volunteers, dedicated to supporting the Bermuda National Library through marketing, programming and fundraising activities.

That's what friends are for: Friends of Bermuda Library Chairman Sabina Wu, centre, recieves a cheque for $2,231.06 from Wendy Railton's primary three class students after they completed a two-week read-a-thon to further reading and raise money for a good cause.