North Dakota 6th grader forgoes Christmas gifts to fundraise for water charity for Africa

BISMARCK, N.D. – A North Dakota middle school student is giving up his Christmas gifts to raise money to provide clean water in African countries.

KXMB-TV reports (http://bit.ly/1zaXoCL ) sixth-grader Bridger Anderson has passed on presents for five years for the cause. The Horizon Middle School student says he raised $5,600 dollars for a well in Ethiopia in his first year of fundraising and raised $5,100 for a well in Rwanda in his third year. He says he has already raised $15,000 this year with the help of his classmates and teachers.

Anderson says he and his peers have access to water and food while many people in African countries have to work hard to get water that often isn’t clean.

Teacher Kelsey Ledger says Anderson’s efforts make students realize how fortunate they are.