As 2022 drew towards Christmas and New Year, the Rotary Club of Retford was delighted to be able to make several presentations of funds to local organisations arising from fundraising activities in which members have participated.
During September the Club had invited a representative from the Food Bank to speak about the work undertaken in the community by the organisation, and their new initiative to provide assistance with fuel costs to those in need. As a result of the visit, members decided to support the Bassetlaw Food Bank Fuel Poverty Voucher Scheme. Sally Ogle presented a cheque for £2,500 to Robert Garland of the Bassetlaw Food Bank at a meeting in November.
At the same meeting Andrew Avery presented a cheque for £1,000 to Liz Brash, Chair of the NSPCC Retford and North Notts Fundraising Committee. This particular donation had been raised through the Rotary Club Charity Golf Day raising just over £2,700. Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice also benefitted from £1,000 from this event, the remainder being used by the Rotary Club to support its local and international causes.
The October Music Festival proved to be a popular event meaning that, in total, the Club was able to make a fantastic donation to Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice. Hannah Goulding and Ruth Wallbank from Bluebell Wood attended a meeting at the end of November, and Club President Geoff Matthews presented them with a cheque for over £4,000. Members were thanked and informed how much this funding would help towards the provision of services to the children and families it supports.
Club members Colin Lawrenson and Geoff and Geraldine Matthews also made a visit to the Aurora Wellbeing Centre in Worksop. This charity provides support to individuals and families affected by cancer. The visitors were all very impressed by the range of services, the beautiful environment that has been created and the professionalism of the staff. During the visit a donation of £1,000 was made from the Percy Laws Memorial Fund, to help support this vital work.
A Victorian Christmas Fayre with a great variety of stalls and suitably dressed stall holders held at Ye Olde Bell Hotel in November raised funds for Bassetlaw Hospice, NSPCC and local Rotary supported charities, and the Santa Run in December supported the Food Bank and Focus on Young People in Bassetlaw. Watch out for further reports of charitable donations in the New Year.
These fabulous donations are of course made possible from the generosity of local people attending the Club’s events. The Rotary would like to thank all those who have supported fundraising efforts in 2022 and wish everyone a very Happy New Year.