SCHOOLS and businesses around York have been urged to take part in a charity dress down day to support a local girl.

Poppy Wadsworth is eight years old and lives with a congenital birth condition called cloaca, which means several of her internal organs are not properly separated.

Her friends and family are trying to raise £50,000 so she can be flown to Columbus, Ohio, where doctors have offered to contribute another £50,000 to perform a specialist operation to give her a more normal life.

Debbie Cawthorne is a friend of Poppy’s mother, and is trying to organise a city-wide dress down day to help boost the online fund, which currently stands at just over £14,000.

She said: “It’s about bringing back good old fashioned dress down days.

“I have emailed 51 primary schools, nine secondary schools, and two specialist schools around the city, and if we get get all of them involved, that would be marvellous. I would love to have the whole of York take part, but can’t see that happening, but everyone who takes part or donates instead of taking part will help get Poppy to the USA quicker.”

Debbie has also approached a number of local businesses to take part in the dress down day on May 8, or to make a contribution to Poppy’s appeal instead and said she had already had some positive feedback from local companies and schools.

She said: “It would be nice to know who’s getting involved, but they don’t need to let me know or get the money to me, just get it on the JustGiving page.

“Poppy and her mum Alison are over the moon with the idea, and the fund is coming on at a steady pace, with a lot more events going on in the background and coming up. There have been cake sales, there’s the pop-up boutique and a three peaks walk coming up, but the focus for the immediate future is to get people talking about this and taking part.”

To donate to Poppy’s appeal, go to justgiving.com/Alison-Wadsworth or to find out more about taking part in the dress down day, email debbie.cawthorne1@btinternet.com