Tiny Northland student's dress-up day raises $300 for surf club

Genna Litt is only 9 but she single-handedly organised a "Super Hero and Villain" dress-up day at her school that raised $300 for a surf lifesaving club in Northland.

An ad on TV about the work of lifeguards spurred the Morningside School student into action and she has vowed to run similar fundraising drivers in future for the likes of SPCA, rescue helicopters, and St John ambulance brigade.

The Year 5 student wondered what to do during "Discovery Time" — a class session where students decide what is was they wanted to learn about.

"I thought about a commercial on TV a couple of months ago where a bunch of kids talk about how hard surf lifesavers work so I thought 'Hmm I should do a fundraiser for them' and discussed it with my teacher.

"Maybe a dress-up day because we've done it for other things. I thought students can pay $1 or $2 but then some parents who have lot of kids in school won't be able to afford to pay."

Genna asked students for a koha in the end and the proceeds were more than she expected.

She checked the school calendar for an appropriate day, discussed her plans with her principal, organised the dress-up day on March 8, emailed school staff and wrote a notice for all students about her fundraiser.

Genna Litt hands over $300 cash she raised during a dress-up day to represtatives of the Ruakaka Surf Lifesaving Club. Photo/Supplied

Genna was impressed with the costumes on display.

"I like the quick mask with older clothes and then another student was dressed up like a wonder woman in glad wrap and toilet paper. I also saw a bunch walking around dressed up like Batman and Spiderman."

The success of her dress-up day has encouraged her to organise more fundraising drives in future.

"When I am older, I'll do fundraisers for others like the SPCA, ambulance, rescue helicopter who all do an amazing work in our community," Genna said.

She hopes the $300 she raised will help pay for lifesaving equipment.

Her teacher Clare Newman said the school was proud of Genna.

"This is typical of Genna who is the type of person who always thinks of others. She has great organisational skills and organised everything with minimal support from me. She's just growing and growing," Newman said.

Proceeds from the dress-up day were handed over to representatives of the Ruakaka Surf Lifesaving Club at the school on March 30.