Trip gets heart felt boost

Love is in the air at Wairarapa College today as Valentine's Day flowers are delivered to waiting students.

Several Wairarapa College students are using the day to fundraise for a trip to the school's sister school, Wakamatsu High School in Japan, by selling flowers to fellow students.

Languages head of department Cathy Mabey has organised the flower-selling fundraiser over the last few years.

"This is a fund that we keep going so we've got a little bit of money in the coffers for them [Wakamatsu High School] when they come here and us when we go there," Mrs Mabey said.

Eight students gathered after school yesterday to help organise and parcel up the flowers, which arrived from Auckland.

Students helped wrap the flowers in cellophane, placed cards with the Valentine's name with each flower, and trimmed them so they stayed fresh for today.

Mrs Mabey said the fundraiser could raise anywhere between $200 and $700, on a really good year.

Students could order an individual flower for their Valentine or three flowers. The sender was kept anonymous.

"Some people are really excited, some of them are a little bit shy and embarrassed about it, mostly they're pretty happy to get them," she said.

"They go to students and there's some teachers who get them as well so that's kind of nice," Mrs Mabey said.

She said 300 flowers had been ordered by the school and prices varied according to the season.

"But red roses are significantly more expensive than the other ones."

Mrs Mabey said she would be organising the fundraiser again next year.