A GROUP of Ilkley teenagers and their friends have already raised more than £1,000 for a charity they founded to help a school in Kenya.

The pupils at St Mary's School, Menston, set out to raise £750 to rebuild the school at Kilimani, Mombasa, by setting up their own registered charity, Build A School In Kenya (BASIK).

Fifteen year-old Will Normington, of Ben Rhydding, saw the school run in a tiny building when he and his family were on holiday in Kenya. He and his friends, with the help of his mother, Celia, helped set up the registered charity to raise money for building work at the school.

It was then up to the young fundraisers to come up with novel ways of raising money for the cause.

Their first efforts came in the form of regular five-a-side football matches and within just a few weeks they had reached and passed their target sum. But not content to stop there, they set out to organise more sponsored activities in aid of BASIK.

Will was sponsored to have his legs waxed, raising £120 and a quiz night organised by the group of friends raised £50. The friends also went carol singing before Christmas to raise money.

This summer, the boys plan to walk 50 miles in a weekend in the Yorkshire Dales. And one St Mary's pupil, who wanted to remain anonymous, donated more than £100.

In the two months since the charity was set up, the teenagers have now raised £1,135.

Spencer Hardcastle, 15, said: "Will went to Kenya and told us all about the hardships that children there had to suffer. He said that we had so much compared to them. We all decided that we wanted to do something so we got together and formed our charity.

"We want to raise as much as we can. People can go onto our website, www.justbasik.co.nr and donate money there.

"We would like to thank all the generous residents of Ilkley who donated to the carol singing campaign during the festive season."

Missionary, Julius Nzai, who teaches at the Kilimani School, told the teenagers he needs their support to do the work needed at the school.

He said: "My target is to put up a good wall and raise the roof, also I have to extend the building. I really need your support very much and God bless you so much."

The group found its own sponsorship from Bradford printing company, Norpak, which donated cash to the appeal and supplied free printing of publicity material.

The firm's managing director, Chris Parry, praised the young fundraisers for their efforts.