Rotary Children's Fun Day

The second Wednesday in June is not an insignificant day in the Rotary Diary. Over 27 000 disabled and disagvantaged chrilren across the country take part in Rotoary Children's Fun Day.

It is the time when our Distict, 1070, joins with Districts 1210,1060 & 1220 to facilitate, what we hope, will be a memorable day for many children.

The charity Kids in Mind is instrumental in working with the four Districts, together with members from RC Ashby Castle, to faciltate this event.For the last three years we have welcomed children, with valued support, to Twycross Zoo, Leicestershire, who are very generous in sponsoring the children and for this we give our heartfelt thanks, as without their kindness not so many children would be able to attend.

As all four Districts in the cluster come together to give the best day possible, the one thing we cannot guarantee is the weather. Thus year was, unfortunately, a day of sunshine and showers, and it was not just the children that got wet. There were a few soggy Rotarians too!

Over 600 children with their parents, teachers or carers were greeted on arrival by Rotarians from the four Districts, together with Steve Cartwright from Kids in Mind. The juggling of coaches, minibusses and cars, all needing to unload and park, arriving in a two hour timespan, is indescribable. The zoo staff are greatly involved in directing the traffic, to ensure there are no "log jams", which is gratly appreciated. Then everyone needs to be registered before entering the zoo! The teams do a fantastic job.

This year we welcomed a new charity, Expect Amazing, who supplied books for each of the schools to take away at the end of theday. The book packing co-ordinated by the Rotarians, took place in Windows on the Wild, at Twycross Zoo. In her first experience of this event, Avni Vyas, Director of the charity, as well as a Rotarian, dropped in to lend a hand. We hope she was suitably impressed.

Own our Club, RC Ashby Castle, was proud to support and welcome members from Forest Way School in Coalville, whodespite getting a little wet, had a great time. Not only did thay take away their memories and book, all pupils present received a cap.