Emma plans African mercy mission

AN Appleton schoolgirl is busy raising funds for a trip to South Africa in July, where she will join a team working at an orphanage.
Emma Flanagan, 14, of Bridgewater High School, needs to raise £700 for the two-week trip. She is busy fundraising with schemes such as baking and selling cakes and a sponsored walk on April 9.
Her family mum, Denise Charlesworth, dad Andrew Flanagan and brother Matthew are all helping with the fundraising.
Emma attends the Bright Sparks Youth Club at St John’s Church, Wilderspool Causeway. She heard about the trip when a speaker from the organisation Agape, who run the Christian orphanage in the Cape Town area, attended her church.
The family, of Landseer Avenue, Warrington, are all proud of Emma. She wants to give the children a gift when she leaves the orphanage, so family friends are making friendship bracelets for her to take.
Emma will be allocated a task, ranging from painting and decorating to working in the classrooms, when she gets to South Africa.
Denise said: “We’re really inspired by her decision – she will be the youngest on the trip. She’s amazed me at wanting to do this and for someone of her age to make this commitment is fantastic.”
Emma hopes to be an architect when she leaves school and will soon be doing a two-week placement in an architectural office. In her spare time she enjoys boxing, acrobatics, the youth club and is a guide leader.