Charities

Event’s 11th year

THEpopular Walks, Runs and Bikes event organised by Rotary Nailsea and Backwell for charity will take place on Sunday, June 19th, the 11th year it has been held.

Those who have taken part in previous years will know how scenic the routes are and those who have not participated before are in for a treat!

People who wish to take part but are unable to do so on June 19th can choose any convenient day up to and including July 31st.

The bike routes were added last year and they are 25k, 50k and 100k for ages 13 or over. Some 55 cyclists took part last year and it is hoped that there will be more this year.

The walking/running routes are, as usual, 5k, 10k, and 20k, the shortest being suitable for wheelchairs, pushchairs and families.

Sponsors provide approximately £5,000 for which Rotary say they are very appreciative. The registration fee is £10 per person aged 18 and over and £5 per person aged 13 to 17 all of which goes to local good causes.

Details: www.nailsearotary.org Roger Smith 01275 854076 • roger.jan@blueyonder.co.uk

Lucky winners

SHOPS and businesses in the Chew Valley and surrounding areas supported the Easter egg raffle, organised by the Rotary Club of Chelwood Bridge. The eggs were left at 25 locations, raising funds for the Children’s Sue Osborne (left) accepting her prize from Vaishali Patel at Pensford Post Office Hospice South West, Make a Wish and Water Survival Box.

Rotary president, John Palmer, said: “A big thank you to all the businesses that hosted the eggs and all members of the public, who entered the raffle.”

Charity’s new manager

SOMERSETcharity PROMISEworks has appointed Alison Hart general manager with support from the National Lottery Community Fund. Ali has worked with the charity for the last five years, first as a volunteer mentor and then as an employee. She has helped the charity grow to provide over 120 volunteer mentors to vulnerable young people across the Ali Hart county. Robert Peto, chair of the trustees said: “We must grow in order to meet the demand – currently we have over 250 children and young people across Somerset who need our help NOW! We expect this number to continue to grow.”

Ali said: “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to guide PROMISEworks into the next stage of its development. I am especially keen to contact Somerset businesses to find mutually beneficial ways to work together, so that we can support more young people across Somerset.”

An example of this cooperative approach with business is Thatchers cider sponsoring a senior member of their team to train and become a volunteer mentor; this cooperation is now entering its third year.

Ali will head up the staff team of seven who together find, train and support the volunteers. At the same time Ali will be exploring new partnerships and innovative ways of attracting both funds and volunteers to the charity.

Details: www.promiseworks.org.uk 0300 3651 900

Theatre trips

LANGPORTand District Red Cross is planning a series of fundraising coach trips to the Bristol Hippodrome.

Their next visits are to Mamma Mia! on June 20th and Les Miserables on July 19th.

Details: Chris Cox 01458 273085 charitytheatretrips@btinternet.com www.charitytheatretrips.com

Tea party goes down a storm

Relatives of Benj, who organised the fundraiser and baked all the goodies on offer

AN afternoon cream tea party and live music session at the Tucker’s Grave Inn at Faulkland has raised £5,000 for the Bowel Movement cancer charity.

The event was held on the first anniversary of the founding of the charity in memory of Benj Millard who died from the disease in 2020.

Everything stops for a cream tea

Jenny (left) and Jacqui in the Old Parlour

For details about the charity, visit: www.thebowelmovement.uk

Charity bikers on tour of Mendip

AROUND 60 iconic Harley Davidson motorbikes have been ridden in convoy across Mendip to raise money for two charities. Organised by the Bridgwater Harley Davidsons Owners group, wet weather meant numbers were reduced for the tour, Wells mayor Philip Welch greets the riders which began and ended in Burnhamon-Sea, raising money for Blood Bikes and BARB, the town’s rescue boat and hovercraft organisation.

One of the distinctive Harleys on the tour

The convoy arrives in

Sadler Street in Wells

New man at the helm

THERNLI in Weston-super-Mare has appointed Chris Ware from Bleadon as its new volunteer lifeboat operations manager.

He takes over from Mike Buckland, who is standing down after four years leading the team from their temporary lifeboat station on Knightstone Plaza.

Mike will continue his work with the wider team on developing plans to return Weston’s lifeboat station to Birnbeck Island.

Area Lifesaving Manager, Andy Wright, said: “Mike has been a passionate advocate for the lifesaving operations at Weston for over 20 years as boat crew, helm and most recently Lifeboat Operations Manager.

“I am excited that he will still be involved as he supports the RNLI’s work to establish a permanent base for our Weston crew. I would like to thank him for all his efforts and commitment to the charity, and I look forward to continuing to collaborate with him on the Birnbeck project.”

Chris Ware is a retired Avon and Somerset Police superintendent who spent most of his career in uniformed operational roles. On retiring from the police, Chris became the head of security at Bristol Airport.

He has been an enthusiastic supporter of the RNLI for over 50 years and says he is extremely pleased to be taking on the operational role, leading the 35 volunteers who provide the vital services at one of the country’s busiest lifeboat stations.

The team currently work out of a temporary lifeboat station adjacent to Marine Lake but hope to move back to Birnbeck Island in the future once the long-term future of the pier is resolved.

Mike Buckland handing over the keys to Chris Ware

Rolling up their sleeves

SOMEof the team from Higos Insurance Services in Somerton volunteered to clear a house site for MIND, based in Shepton Mallet. MIND is the company’s chosen charity this year.

Sarah Neale, Head of Central Trading, said: “We understand the pandemic has taken a huge toll on people and MIND do great work to support people who are struggling.”

The company was more than happy to spare staff during the working day to lend a hand. After clearing space and filling a skip, they started painting.

Rotary race night

A CHARITYrace night, held by the Rotary Club of Chelwood Bridge at Stanton Drew parish hall, raised just under £1,500 for the charity Make a Wish and other charities supported by the club.

Hospice friends hold fundraiser

(l:r) Sue Padfield, Janet Millard, Sheila Dryburgh, Jane Bowden (committee chair) and Tim Marshall at St John’s Church Hall

A COFFEE morning has been held by the Midsomer Norton Friends of Children’s Hospice South West in aid of the charity at St John’s Church Hall in the town.

Tackling loneliness

FROME-based charity Active and In Touch will focus on the impact of loneliness when they launch their Above and Beyond Fundraising Appeal during National Loneliness Week between June 13th-17th.

The charity supports over 300 people in Frome and neighbouring villages who are living alone at home. Demand for their services increased significantly during the Covid-19 pandemic as people were forced to stay home. The charity is calling on people to get behind the scheme by giving a donation, running your own event, or involving your church, school, community group or business. They are also looking for volunteers to join them.

Details: www.activeandintouch.org email enquiries@activeintouch.org or call 07539 795261

Humanitarian aid for Kenya

Presentation by David Atkins (left) and David Fitzpatrick

A PRESENTATIONof £1,760 was made by Glastonbury and Street Lions Club on behalf of the Lions Clubs of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and part of Dorset to David Baldwin, Butleigh resident and co-founder of the charity St Peter’s Life-Line.

The proposal to award was made by David Atkins, the International Relations Co-ordinator and President of the Glastonbury and Street Club, and endorsed by David Fitzpatrick, the Immediate Past District Governor for the Lions’ South West District.

David said his charity works in a remote, impoverished, semi-arid area of Kenya, where the funds would go to their primary school feeding scheme, where they are giving a daily hot lunch to 1,768 children at nine local primary schools.

He said: “This daily meal in this food-shortage area, gives these kids the incentive to come into school every day to fill their tummies, and their brains! The result over time has been raising and stabilising school attendances, as well as improving overall academic standards. And, at just nine pence per meal, your donation will provide a lot of lunches!”

David Atkins said: “This is truly a charity that fits the criteria for our Humanitarian Project reaching out in a practical and effective way to the poor. It has the added bonus of providing remarkable value for money as they do not charge any overheads to run the charity, and combined with relatively low costs in Kenya, ensures that all donations go a long way in providing for these people’s needs.”

Hospice benefits from Matt’s marathon walk

LONG-distance walker Matt Drew has raised almost £6,000 for charity in memory of a friend who lost her battle with cancer.

Matt took almost a week to walk from Wells Cathedral to Westminster Abbey, raising funds for St Margaret’s Hospice where his friend, Wells Blue School teacher Sam Holland, received care.

He was joined for the first leg by Sam’s widower, Dan, and other wellwishers –including colleagues from Integrity Print in Westfield – but for the most part walked alone.

Matt with wellwishers including Dan Holland and Pauline Jones from St Margaret’s Hospice

The Rev Mary Bide, sub-Dean of Wells Cathedral, hands Matt a goodwill message to take to Westminster Abbey Matt is greeted at Westminster Abbey by Canon in Residence, The Rt Rev Anthony Ball

Donations can still be made to Matt’s fundraising page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/matt-drew22

Sky’s the limit

A THRILLINGset of challenges has been launched by Weston Hospicecare for supporters to raise vital funds.

From fire walking to skydiving to trekking world heritage sites, the programme has something for everyone.

Zelah Ellis, events and challenges officer, said: “There are some incredible and exhilarating opportunities for supporters to tick off some once in a lifetime experiences.

“Whether you are inspired to take on a run, trek, cycle or tackle an extreme challenge such as a sky dive, wing walk or fire walk, look no further.”

The hospice is hosting its second annual charity golf day at Mendip Spring golf course on Friday June 24th.

Teams of four are invited to tee off. Team entry costs £160 with tee times to be staggered between 8.30am-2.30pm.

Mines surveyor’s generous legacies

RETIRED mines surveyor Ray Ashman has bequeathed more than £170,000 to six charities ranging from Paulton Hospital League of Friends to Radstock Museum.

Representatives of the organisations attended a celebration at Prattens Social Club of Ray’s life when they were each presented with cheques.

The biggest legacy was of £57,400 to the league of friends, who will put the money towards the cost of a dedicated X-ray machine at the hospital. Dorothy House Hospice, The Friends of Claverton Down Cats and Dogs Home, Radstock Museum and Cancer Research UK each received £28,700 with £5,000 going to the Alzheimer’s Society.

Ray, who was born in May 1927, lived nearly all of his life in Norton Hill and studied surveying at the Coal Board College in South Wales before working in the Somerset coalfields. He married Dorothy in 1963 but the couple had no children. Dorothy died in 2018. He was a keen sports player and musician, playing the organ at Westfield Church.

Ray died on April 28th, 2020 but due to the pandemic, his relatives were unable to hold the celebration until exactly two years later.

John Gibson, his nephew, who along with his wife Lana was asked to look after the couple’s wills, said: “To put it mildly, we were astonished by their generosity to the various charities.”

Molly and Keevah, relatives of Ray, present Gilly Gould, chair of the Paulton Hospital League of Friends with her cheque

John and Lana Gibson and Molly and Keevah with the charities Radstock Museum representatives

Putting on the glitz

SOMERSETFreemasons raised £6,000 for cancer charity We Hear You with a “Gatsby” ladies night and the lodge Christmas fundraiser.

The donation was from Shepton Mallet’s Lodge of Love and Honour. Debbie Christensen, organiser of the Gatsby event, said: “Michael and I wanted to find a local charity to support that would have been directly hit from lack of face-to-face funding during the lockdowns.”

Gemma Wilkes, the charity’s fundraising and communications manager, said: “The fantastic amount raised will help us provide more than 136 free specialist counselling sessions for children and adults coping with the emotional impact of cancer or a life threatening condition.”