When you are a small country school with only 106 pupils, fundraising to do work around the school is particularly hard.

But thanks to a $5,000 grant from the Harcourts Foundation, Pukekawa School is now one step closer to upgrading its sports area.

Principal Karen McCulloch says they do their very best with sausage sizzles and other fundraisers, but when it comes to big projects, they are reliant on the generosity of organisations like the Harcourts Foundation.

The grant will go towards laying astroturf, a new fence and the installation of quality basketball hoops.

Karen McCulloch says her school is basketball mad, with over 50% of her 106 pupils playing the game for Franklin Basketball.

There is currently no functional basketball facility at school to practice on.

“It’s not just our students who use the sports court area, our entire community does. This upgrade is going to provide a much needed year round facility.”

Harcourts Pukekohe branch manager Vonni van Bremen says her team jumped at the chance to be able to support a local school.

“It’s lovely to be able to help out our local kids, who deserve the very best.”

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