Knowle and Dorridge Lions - Sun Shines On Another Record Year

Knowle and Dorridge Lions celebrated yet another record year of achievements on Thursday 25th September, when the club held its annual Presentation evening for sponsors at the Greswolde Hotel in Knowle.

‘We were delighted with the support for all our events which have raised a record £60,000 this year’ said President John Heard. ‘It started with a fine Sunday last Christmas when over 500 people joined in our Festive Walk from Baddesley Clinton House raising an incredible £7,186. But it was our main fundraiser which took place last May on what has now been confirmed as the hottest day of the 2008, so far, when the 25th Knowle Fun Run attracted a record entry of over 2,000 runners and netted £50,068.’

The Lions presented cheques totalling £41,960 to their three nominated charities – Meningitis Trust, Jennifer Trust and Acorns, whilst retaining over £18,787 for local causes.

1 – Lion President John Heard presents cheques to Sanjay Jagatia from Acorns Children’s Hospice, Angela Cloke from Meningitis Trust and Emma Rainbow from Jennifer Trust

2– Lion President John Heard thanks Fun Run sponsors: Judith Hunt from Standley & Co, David Hofton from Hunters & Steve Mason from Waitrose

Another sunny day in July saw the Club hold its double header fundraising day at Packwood House, with a Bikeathon in aid of Leukaemia Research which has already raised over £7.500 and a Summer Stroll for Diabetes UK which has netted over £1,250.

John continued by thanking all the sponsors saying, ‘It’s great for our club of 24 volunteers to celebrate such success again, without help from sponsors every year our events would never realise so much for charity. We sincerely hope that the credit crunch will not affect the generosity of our sponsors for next year.’

Community Service Chairman Wilf Davey, said that money retained for local causes had again been spent on coach outings and tea parties for older people and to benefit local children and disabled people. Money had also been used locally to support the Knowle Park Festival, to help Knowle Sea Scouts, to provide facilities at Knowle and Temple Balsall Primary Schools and to host visiting children from Chernobyl.

Finally, Wilf introduced Andrew Dekker and Roisin Mendonca both recent winners of a Lions’ Youth Travel Bursary. Andrew, who had since qualified as a doctor, spoke of his ten week voluntary work in the Trauma Unit at Groote Shuur Hospital, Cape Town and Roisin described her summer experience at a centre for homeless children in Lusaka, Zambia.