Charitable News around East Kent
Around the Province
A few stories that have caught our eye, and Charities that have benefitted from your support.
CASTLE LODGE 1436 Sandgate
Castle Lodge No 1436 celebrated its 150th anniversary by holding a Ladies Banquet at the Channel Suite Folkestone. The event took place on the 24th June the very same date the Lodge was consecrated 150 years ago.
Over 140 members and guests enjoyed a sumptuous meal and dancing to the sounds of Chicory Tip. Due to the generosity of those present the raffle raised just over £1000.
The Lodge founders were predominantly officers and NCO’s based at Shorncliffe Camp. In recognition of these historic military connections, Major Mani Rai MBE was in attendance to receive a cheque of £500 on behalf of the Gurkha Brigade Association.
A further £500 of the monies raised by the raffle were presented to the RNLI. On Sunday 6th August, WBro Paul Spencer his wife Kiri together with their children visited the RNLI station at Dover where they were pleased to hand over the cheque and enjoy a demonstration of the lifeboat and its equipment.
FLEUR de LIS Lodge 8969 Maidstone
Worshipful Brother, Brian Ball, current Master of the Fleur de Lis Lodge 8969, East Kent, presented a donation to Dr Roger Eltringham, founder and Medical Director of Safe Anaesthesia Worldwide. SAWW.
Together with the monies raised as Master of the London Welsh Lodge 2687, 2020-2022, and assistance of the Lodges brethren, this donation completes his personal goal of raising £1,000 for his local charity in Marden Kent.
SAWW provides portable medical equipment enabling surgical procedures under the most challenging of conditions such as disaster or war zones where regular services no longer exist. Globally it also provides ongoing training and support to local units, to train, maintain and improve their own anaesthesia needs.
These are often in remote areas where normal medical treatment is not available, such as Africa or the Far East.
A very worthy Charity making a great difference to those most in need of medical facilities.
Basically, most surgical procedures cannot take place unless anaesthesia is available.
info@safe4all.org.uk Charity No 1148254
KING EDWARD VII LODGE 3252 Chatham
A few of the brethren of King Edward VII Lodge in Chatham, held a Sunday Lunch event at Upchurch Golf Club, on the 25th June 2023. During the meal, they held a raffle amongst the members of the Lodge and their guests, which raised £200.
This money was donated to the Step and Learn Charity no. 1148686.
The lodge is now making arangements to see if they can commence the sponsorship of the twin boys, featured in the second photograph. Present alongside me (far left) are their mother, (far right) are, Brian Ross, the incumbent Worshipful Master of the Lodge, and Patrick Barden, the Chairman of the Charity.
Step and Learn is a charitable organisation dedicated to the training of children grappling with Cerebral Palsy and akin motor impairments. Their methodology involves imparting crucial life skills through playful means, thereby equipping these children to navigate the challenges of adulthood adeptly.
The two twins are currently undergoing instruction to enhance their mobility, stability, and flexibility. This laudable charity is unquestionably deserving of our continued support.
Ronal Stronach,
I think that you will agree, some amazing Charities that are well deserving of our help and support. If your lodge or chapter has helped a local or national charity, just send us a few photos and a small write up, and we will show everyone the great work we are all doing, and give the charities the well deserved publicity they need.
Send news to new@ekprovince.co.uk
Do you have a story? Drop us a line at news@ekprovince.co.uk