GIRLS from an Abingdon school are to take part in the national Ten for Ten campaign to help raise £1m for our service men and women.

The campaign was set up by Alix and Marcus Hodge, from Appleton, whose daughter, Clara, attends St Helen and St Katharine School.

The idea is to mark ten years in Afghanistan by raising £1m for Help for Heroes and ABF The Soldiers’ Charity by Monday, October 10.

St Helen and St Katharine has organised a week of events to mark the occasion, inviting soldiers from Dalton Barracks to talk about their experiences; dressing up in red, white and blue; running cake stalls and a whole school dance class.

Pupil Lizzie Humberstone, 17, said: “We owe respect and gratitude to our armed forces.

“It is important that schools connect with this issue which affects so many lives.”

Mrs Hodge added: “I think we aren’t quite going to make the £1m because we left it too late to get in touch with sports clubs.

“But we are confident we have 50,000 schoolchildren doing this across the UK, it’s amazing.”