Four Ipswich-based organisations are calling for others to follow their lead and sign up for a national fundraising campaign in aid of Oxfam to help put a stop the two million people who die every year due to unclean water.

Ipswich Building Society, Fred. Olsen Travel, Primedale Estate Agents and Castle Hill Infants School, have all pledged their support for the ‘Bottle for Change’ appeal which has been launched as part of National Plughole Week.

The annual charity week aims to raise awareness and funds to improve water sanitation in developing countries and is supported by Hadleigh-based manufacturer Challs International which produces the Buster range of plughole care products, and this year is joined by Dyno-Rod, Plumbing and Drains.

Bottle for Change participants will be given free bottles of mineral water and asked to fill the empty containers with 1p, 5p and 20p coins. A bottle filled with 1p coins (approx £4) is enough for Oxfam to provide life saving water filtration buckets for two families.

Castle Hill Infants School deputy head teacher Eileen Allpress, said: “Most of us take clean water for granted but for those in other countries it can be a real luxury. We are proud supporters of National Plughole Week and we are continuously encouraging our pupils to think about how lucky we are in the UK.

“The ‘Bottle for Change’ appeal is a simple concept and we will be encouraging all our pupils to take part. Every penny will make a big difference to the life of a child who does not have access to clean, safe drinking water.”

The school has been a long-term supporter of National Plughole Week and in both 2008 and 2009, its pupils won a Suffolk-wide schools competition designed to encourage children to think about where water comes from.

If you would like to participate in the Bottle for Change appeal, simply request your FREE ‘Bottle for Change’ mineral water, from National Plughole Week co-ordinator Amy Bullard, on 01473 326403 or email amy.bullard@projectpr.biz     

National Plughole Week was established in 2007 and last year raised nearly £10,500 for Oxfam. It is hoped this figure will be quadrupled for 2010.

For more information about National Plughole Week, visit www.nationalplugholeweek.com or www.twitter.com/PlugholeWeek and to find out more about Buster visit www.plugholesneedlovetoo.com.