Cheque Presentations to Tree of Light 2017 Beneficiaries

Oswestry Rotary Club's annual Tree of Light event is a local appeal for people and businesses to raise funds to support charities in their own community whilst remembering an important event or person.  This year the appeal raised £6,000 for the benefit of 11 local charities who started to receive their donations recently.

June 11th 2018 : Midlands Air Ambulance

June saw the Rotary Club of Oswestry wrap up its Tree of Light Appeal with the presentation of the final 3 cheques to Midlands Air Ambulance, Severn Hospice and the Lingen Davies Cancer Fund. This year's Appeal raised a terrific £6,000 which was distributed between 11 local charities, each one commenting how important such donations and public funding are in their own operations.

The final 3 beneficiaries are all critical to residents of the Oswestry and District area and demonstrate the importance of such local charitable giving. At the time of the Lingen Davies Centre opening in 2012 Julia Clarke, now Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust’s Director of Corporate Governance, said: "I feel so humbled by the support that we've had from the community that we're providing the service for. This building, in total, will have cost over £5m and all of it has been raised by the public."

Receiving their cheque Lizzy Coleman from this year's Rotary appeal, Events and Fundraising Officer for Lingen Davies, said: "Public support continues to be needed; with the Centre planning for its 40th anniversary in 2019 our Ruby Appeal aims to raise £1.25m by June 5th next year as we focus on three key areas of work: Improving Cancer Prevention and Early Detection, Enhancing Cancer Treatment Services and Supporting People Living Beyond Cancer. Donations have already funded an MRI Guided Prostate Biopsy Machine and Colorectal Scope Guides although more equipment is still needed together with a range of exciting smaller projects to make a positive difference to lives affected by cancer in the community."

Lucy Ruff, Fundraising Manager at Severn Hospice, thanked all the donors to the fund for their continuing assistance saying: "We receive so much support from individuals, groups and from local businesses across Shropshire and Mid Wales without whose help we couldn't deliver and improve our services. We are really thankful!"

Tree of Light Organiser Mike Jones said: "It is the same story with all these charities. Without the support of the public they would not be able to operate. Lizzy and Lucy told us their stories while Maria Jones from the Midlands Air Ambulance also told us how important our donation is for even routine items such as fuel as they still receive no government funding.

"The Tree of Light makes a difference year on year as our members work hard to raise more than the previous year. I am very grateful to both the individual public donors and the business sponsors who help it happen each year. Thanks to their support we all help these charities carry out their work!"

June 1st 2018 : Severn Hospice

June 1st 2018 : Lingen Davies Cancer Appeal

April 9th 2018 : The Cricket Federation for People with Disabilities

Members of Oswestry's Cricket Federation for People with Disabilities (CFPD) Oswestry Focus group recently met with Rotarians to receive a donation from Oswestry Rotary Club's Tree of Light Appeal 2017.

The CFPD was formed in Shropshire back in 1994 to give disabled people the opportunity to develop their cricket skills regardless of the severity of their disability and also provide information on all aspects of disability cricket. There are three Focus clubs in Shropshire (Shrewsbury, St Georges and Oswestry) who, along with the Welsh Dragons from Wrexham, make up 3 teams who offer competitive league cricket for players with both physical disabilities and learning difficulties.

Coach Graham Furber, recognised by both the England Cricket Board and his former employers the NHS for nearly 30 years' outstanding service to disability cricket, said: "You get the full spectrum in disability coaching. From people who have lost a limb to those that are as fit as you or I but can't understand what you're saying.  It certainly makes you change your approach to coaching."  During the spring and summer, festivals are held at prestigious grounds around the country giving players the chance to not only visit but play at some of the nation's top venues.  Several Oswestry players, including Tom Shackell and Rachael Evans, are members of the England CFPD team who enjoy annual 'international tests' with Wales at Lords and Newport.

Speaking of the donation, Tom said that they were grateful for the cheque which will enable to group to pay for essential new equipment and hire of halls as the members prepare for their matches with Wales.

April 9th 2018 : Connect for Life

Members of Oswestry Rotary Club were delighted to be able to make an award from their Tree of Light Appeal 2017 to purchase equipment for the Oswestry group Connect for Life recently. Connect for Life provides a day support service for older people, particularly those with memory loss or dementia where they can meet others and build connections by offering a wide variety of stimulating activities in a safe, welcoming and caring environment.

"The group has gone from strength to strength since it started back in Autumn 2016." said Appeal Organiser Mike Jones. "Now they are able to run two sessions per week."

Group volunteers Carolyn Lewis and Pauline Abbotts brought some of their new equipment to a Rotary meeting to show what had been bought.  "We get a lot of use out of games such as dominoes and noughts and crosses. Both stimulate the memory and create laughter - a bit of competition can be very good for you and our members feel better about themselves." said Pauline.  "We didn't bring along the percussion set but music and singing is also excellent therapy for our members."

Connect for Life meet between 10.30 and 14.30 on Wednesdays at Gateacre Pavilion and now Thursdays at the York Fields Community Room where drinks and a 2 course lunch are provided as well as a wide variety of activities and games appropriate for different levels of abilities for £10 per session.  To find out more visit their website www.connectforlife.co.uk, email connectforlife@hotmail.com or call 07582 207972 - new members and volunteers are always welcome.

Mental Health is the first month of the joint Oswestry Library and Oswestry Rotary Club's "Health and Wellbeing Awareness" programme which launches on 9th May with "Find Your Own Power" - a talk by local author P J Ruscoe on finding your true self in a world of negativity - followed by "Living With Dementia" on 22nd May - a talk by George Rook on how his dementia was diagnosed and how he deals with it on a day to day basis.  Tickets for these lunchtime events are available from Oswestry Library (01743 250351).

March 26th 2018 : North Shropshire Special Olympics

There were mixed emotions when Oswestry Rotary Club members visited Oswestry Leisure Centre for the Monday night training session of the North Shropshire Special Olympics group.  Rotary Club President Dave Davies, Tree of Light Appeal Organiser Mike Jones and Rotarian Denzil Ellis presented a cheque from the Tree of Light Appeal 2017 to their Chairman Brian Johnson: "We are very grateful to the supporters of the Tree of Light for providing funds for equipment and running costs which are much appreciated by our athletes.”

North Shropshire Special Olympics is a club offering sporting activities for children and adults with physical and learning disabilities. Sports include athletics, swimming, basketball, table tennis, badminton and boccia plus adapted sports for the less able. Weekly training takes place at Oswestry Leisure Centre, Moreton Hall School and The Venue. The club operates as part of the international Special Olympics organisation and can offer regular opportunities for competition within the Midlands region and nationally.

The evening was also the final night for Head Coach Grahame Poole and his wife Pam who are retiring having joined the Club over 11 years ago when Grahame volunteered to be an umpire at the group's regional table tennis competition.  Grahame's hard work and dedication was recognised in March 2011 when he was named Volunteer of the Year by the Special Olympics UK governing body.

"Grahame and Pam will be much missed. Graham is always the first to volunteer if any job needs doing." said Brian adding "Anyone interested in attending a trial session in any of the sports provided or to become a volunteer to help with the group should contact me on 01691 657370 or by emailing environmentalbrian34@gmail.com."

March 23rd 2018 : The Movement Centre

Rotarians from Oswestry Rotary Club visited The Movement Centre at the Orthopaedic Hospital recently to see for themselves the new soft play building blocks that were purchased with the donation from their 2017 Tree of Light Appeal.

President Dave Davies, Appeal Organiser Mike Jones and Rotarian Denzil Ellis were shown the blocks and met some of the staff from the Centre which provides a specialist therapy called Targeted Training for children who have problems with their movement control.  With this help, a child is up to 4 times more likely to gain control of their movement than with traditional physiotherapy alone and can gain head control and  develop the skills to sit unaided so they can play and interact with their friends and family.

Fundraiser and Physiotherapy Assistant Curtis Langley thanked the Tree of Light Sponsors: "We are very grateful for the contribution of the Tree of Light Appeal towards our work. Donations like this enable us to continue providing Targeted Training which makes a huge difference to the children and their families.”

March 19th 2018 : Hope House

"It is always a pleasure when we visit Hope House to present donations." said Tree of Light Organiser Mike Jones recently when a group from Oswestry Rotary Club visited Oswestry's much-loved childrens hospice with a cheque from their 2017 Tree of Light Appeal. "People think that a hospice is somewhere you come to die but I can honestly say the Hope House is not a place of sadness but a place of happiness and comfort."

Receiving the cheque was long term Hope House visitor Kiera Thomas.  Born with a condition that means that she will need 24/7 care throughout her life and will never develop beyond an 18-month-old, Kiera enjoys meeting guests at Hope House and laughed and smiled throughout the Rotarians' visit.

Appropriately, the donation will go to Hope House's current appeal "Arthur's Story" named for 2 year old Arthur Mullis who died suddenly three years ago when Hope House's team of specialists were able to provide support for Arthur's parents and siblings. Three years on, Hope House continues to be there for the whole family and will be for as long as they are needed.

"Very sadly we are currently only able to support 1 family in 3 who have suffered the death of a child.  Demand for this service is increasing but the monies we raise are not." says Lynsey Kilvert Hope House's Area Fundraiser for Shropshire and Powys. "Keira and Arthur's families know how important it is that we are here for local children and their families; thankfully with the help of our supporters such as the Tree of Light they will not have to face life on their own."

March 12th 2018 : RJAH Horatio's Garden

With a visit to the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital, Club members presented a cheque to Victoria Sugden, Charity Director for the League of Friends for their Horatio's Garden project.

Lady Trevor, Appeal Patron and long-time servant of the League of Friends, had spoken to Rotarians at a recent meeting about the RJAH's exciting plan to become one of only 5 sites in the country to have a Horatio Garden - a special garden to allow patients at the Midlands Spinal Injuries Unit access to an area they could share with family and friends or just be on their own.  The idea is the legacy of 17 year-old Horatio Chapple, sadly killed in a polar bear attack on a school trip, who had thought of the idea.

Only £120,000 is needed to achieve Oswestry's target of £675,000 and donations can be made online at https://mydonate.bt.com/events/oswestry.

Oswestry Stroke Club and The Marches Rising for the Disabled Group visited a Rotary meeting recently to receive their cheques.

March 12th 2018 : The Marches Riding for the Disabled Group

Three members from The Marches Riding for the Disabled Group also received their cheque.  Meeting at Penycoed Stables, Pant on a Thursday morning from 10.30 am, the group currently provides riding lessons for 7 riders with disabilities - an increase of 2 on last year.  "Whilst riders make a contribution to the sessions, we have to meet the significant costs of horse hire and insurance." said volunteer and Trustee Agnes Barbour.  "However, this donation will allow us to provide a horse mounting block for use in the new indoor facility at Penycoed."

Volunteer Valerie Bellison added: "Groups like ours depend on donations like this as well as our own fundraising but we also need the help of volunteers; we welcome volunteers who have horse experience who want to get involved although we can give training to help.  Anyone interested should contact us via our Chairperson Mrs Nat Sheehy natsheehy@gmail.com."

March 12th 2018 : Oswestry & District Stroke Club

Mike Garratt, Chair of Oswestry and District's Stroke Club a self-help and social group for people who have suffered a stroke and their carers, expressed his gratitude for their donation saying: "We visit a lot of events to raise the profile of our group, raise funds and tell people that we are here to support them.  We will be able to use some of this donation to improve our publicity material and equipment.  Hopefully, more people out there will come along to our meetings.  We meet in the Senior Citizens Club on Lorne Street on every second Thursday of the month from 2pm to 4pm and can be contacted via Facebook or by emailing oswestrystrokeclub@aol.co.uk.  Thanks again to the Tree of Light supporters!"