A KUNG Fu club is trying to kick start a national fundraiser for a charity which brightens the lives of seriously ill children.

Sifu Ray Heeks, the instructor at Darwen School of Kung Fu and Lion Dance, has asked every martial arts club in the country to join up to his ambitious idea to help the Starlight Children's Foundation. Over several days in July, he wants the clubs to stage simultaneous sponsored events and anticipates raising tens of thousands of pounds.

Ray said he was determined to help after reading about the plight of the children helped by the charity.

The Starlight Foundation grants holidays, entertainments, a meeting with a child's favourite celebrity -- practically any wish it is possible to fulfil. The Darwen club will stage a 'kickathon' for which the pupils -- made up of 90 children and 20 adults -- will perform 'Kung-Fu' kicks into punch bags for as long as they can.

Ray said other clubs could vary this theme as long as they raised money. The last fundraiser we did raised £1,000," said Ray, "so if we get, for example, 10 clubs involved we could raise £10,000.

"So we should be able to raise thousands and thousands of pounds. My wish is to make this a country-wide event not a one man band. Alone we are a soldier, together we are an army!

"We have a lot of children at our school. I am a father, and soon to be again, but I could not help but ask myself if I was a parent with a seriously ill child 'How would I cope?' without help from an organisation like this.

"One of these ill children could be my students or my children. I am hoping we can give these well-deserving kids a big smile. "

Ray contacted a representative from the Starlight Foundation last November to offer his help and has been planning this event ever since.

The Darwen school uses the Central United Reformed Church, in Duckworth Street, and Sudellside Neighbourhood Centre.

To take part, call Ray on 01254 583767.