Unicef Ireland set sights on €1 million goal

A new Unicef fundraising initiative is aiming to raise €1 million to support the charity's work for children around the world.

Under a three-year partnership, Unicef Ireland has teamed up with fuel retailer Topaz to collect the money, with customers at the company's service stations being given the chance to add 2 cent to their bill to support the scheme.

The fundraising plan was launched by actor Sir Roger Moore, who was appointed a Unicef goodwill ambassador in 1991.

Executive director of Unicef Ireland Melanie Verwoerd said the fund would make a "real and lasting difference" to children's lives.

"For example, two cents will allow Unicef to purify up to 10 litres of water, enabling children to drink and wash safely, four cents will buy one sachet of oral rehydration salts and 10 cents will provide one dose of vaccine to immunise a child against polio," she said.