Mayor of Rotherham becomes Honorary Member
At a meeting on Wednesday 9th January, the Mayor of Rotherham, Councillor Sheila Cowan, was inducted as an Honorary Member of Rotherham Sitwell Rotary Club by President Martin Davis. In her acceptance speech, she fondly remembered her late husband, Roland, who was a Past President of Mexborough Rotary Club.
Charity donations
Also at the meeting, cheques were presented to three of the club’s supported charities. Representatives from Rotherham Cancer Care Centre, Start-a-Heart 24 / 7, and Swinton Lock Activity Centre received donations from President Martin and provided updates on the latest developments within their respective charities. It was heartwarming to hear stories of lives saved and improved through their hard work, further motivating the club to continue its support.
The fourth supported charity, Andy’s Man Club, was unable to send a representative to the meeting, so their cheque presentation will take place at a future date.
Foundation and international news
Chris Croker, Chair of the Foundation and International Committee, reported that following fundraising activities over the festive season, the committee now has a clear budget for the year and is able to allocate funds accordingly. Additionally, thanks to a generous donation from a club member, there is more to distribute than originally anticipated.
The first charity to be supported is PEAS (Promoting Equality in African Schools) Uganda. The charity’s mission is to get girls into school and support them in a nurturing environment, transforming their futures in ways previously unimaginable. PEAS has won the UNESCO Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education.
The second charity to receive support is The Busoga Trust, which brings clean, safe water to rural communities in Uganda through the construction and rehabilitation of wells and boreholes. This donation follows a request from the District Governor.
The third charity receiving support is Smile Train, which the committee also supported last year. This organisation provides oral health education, orthodontic treatment, and surgical repair of cleft palates, transforming lives by giving individuals confidence and helping them integrate more easily into their communities.
Each of these three charities will receive £300.