FRESH AIR FUND

Southland Times, Issue 18938, 11 May 1923, Page 2

FRESH AIR FUND

IN URGENT NEED OF HELP. To the Editor. Sir, —May I once again trespass upon your courtesy to bring before your reader* the needs of the Fesh Air Fund, which wa* founded by the late Sir Arthur Pearson thirty-two years ago for the purpose of providing Day Outings and Fortnightly Holidays for children, who otherwise would not get a brief respite from their unhappy surroundings ? In the past two years the Fresh Air Fund has unfortunately had to spend £5,000 more than its income, which mean* that most of the available reserves have been used. This expenditure was incurred rafher than disappoint the many thousands of poor children who had been promised a much-needed short holiday and who were so eagerly looking forward to it. To the children with whom the Fresh Air Fund deals even one day in the country is a wonderful event—a fortnight’s holiday a miraculous happening. Fifteen-pence pays for a day in the country. One pound pays for two weeks’ holiday. Thirteen pounds pays for a day for 200 children with attendants.

May I particularly impress upon your readers that the Fresh Air Fund is a unique charity, for the whole of the amount subscribed is spent upon the children. During the past thirty-one years, 4,525, 341 poor children have been the guests of the Fresh Air Fund for a day, and from 1908 when the fortnightly holidays commenced—7o,924 poor children have been given a much-needed change of that duration.

It is easy to record in mere hard statiatics the work accomplished, but who can place on record or value the result achieved in terms of Life, Health and Happiness? Donations, however small, will be thankfully received, and should be addressed to me as Hon. Sec., Pearson’s Fresh Air Fund, 17a Henrietta street, London, W.C. 2., England. Yours faithfully, E. KESSELL, Hon. Sec.