A KIND-HEARTED Musselburgh girl has raised funds to help Syrian refugees after coming face to face with some of those affected on a family holiday to Greece.

Five-year-old Rosa McKay, a P1 pupil at Pinkie St Peter’s Primary School, was in Athens in March with her dad Kenny, mum Jen Williams and brother Leo, aged four, when they came across hundreds of refugees who were sleeping rough.

Mr McKay said that after visiting the National Archaeological Museum, the family went to the nearest metro station on the map, at Victoria Square.

He said: “That was where the refugees were staying. We didn’t know this at the time because it was away from the main tourist area. When we got to the square, it was full of refugees.

“Rosa asked what was going on and we explained that they were running away from a war and had nowhere to stay. She was particularly upset by the young children there who had nothing.

“One young girl about Rosa’s age caught her eye because she was looking at us while we were waiting for the lift down into the metro station. We were already down in the station when Rosa said she wanted to go back up to give the little girl her new pink dolphin soft toy. So I went up the stair with Rosa and she handed the toy to the young girl.

“At that point, I spoke to a young man who spoke some English about what we were doing and what was happening to them.”

Mr McKay added: “Out of the blue, a few weeks ago, Rosa told us that she had been thinking about the children who had nowhere to live because of the war and that she wanted to sell her old toys and clothes, and give the money to them.”

After going through her own possessions back at the family home on Edenhall Road, Rosa then collected items from family and friends. She hosted a stall at a recent car boot sale at Newcraighall Station car park, which is organised by Portobello Rotary Club on the last Sunday of the month.

She has so far raised more than £220, with more donations expected, which will be shared between Save the Children and UNICEF Syrian crisis appeals.

Mr McKay said: “Rosa would like to thank everyone who kindly donated items to sell and who bought things from the stall. She is very proud that the money she has raised will be enough to feed a family of six for more than two months.”

Rosa is now considering another fundraising venture, this time to help provide medicine and doctors to help people in Syria.