Club News

Rotarians reach new heights with their fundraising efforts!

Rotarians reach new heights with their fundraising efforts!

From the south of England to North Wales, Rotarians across the country are finding new ways of challenging themselves in order to save money for their chosen charities.

Robin Long, an 88 year old member of Lymington Rotary, recently completed a sky dive in aid of Wessex Cancer Trust.

Along with 4 young friends and in the safe hands of GoSkydive, Robin successfully jumped from 15,000 feet high – reaching speeds as high as 125 miles per hour on his way down!

After flying over the Isle of Wight, Stonehenge and right across the Cotswolds, Robin landed with ease and was delighted to hear that he and his team raised over ÂŁ4,000 with their dive.

It was an unbelievable experience and I’ve survived to tell the tale!” – Robin Long

Further to the east of the English coast, Folkestone Rotary successfully held their fifth annual charity golf day to raise money for School Uniforms Project.

The club had been working with local schools and discovered that there are many families struggling to provide their children with school uniforms as well as PE kits, shoes and coats so the golf day provided the perfect opportunity to support those families.

On a perfect day, 19 teams took part in a 18 hole “Texas Scramble” competition and £1,400 was raised over the course of the event.

The winning team celebrating their victory after a day of golf in support of School Uniforms Project.

President Kate McNeice commented “It was nice that the players clearly enjoyed the occasion with such good weather and a fun competition. Once again thanks again go to the organiser David Roseveare (also a keen golfer) and the many volunteers as well as the teams of course. We raised a tremendous £1,400 from the event which included a raffle.

We are equally delighted to support the Schools project to support those who need a helping hand.”

The club had been working with local schools and discovered that there are many families struggling to provide their children with school uniforms as well as PE kits, shoes and coats.”

Folkestone weren’t the only Rotary club getting active though as one of the Llandudno Rotary’s longstanding members, Dr. Ashok Harshey, completed a gruelling 22 mile walk from Bangor Pier to Llandudno Pier.

The walk was in aid of two charities close to Ashok’s heart: St David’s Hospice, Llandudno and Sea Point Rotary Ilitha Pre-school project, Cape Town, South Africa.

Both have been gladly supported by Llandudno Rotary in recent years and both have been severely affected financially by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ashok walked from 8am to 5pm with the support of his friends to complete the Pier to Pier Challenge.

Ashok has a page where you can donate and help him reach his £1,000 target, or alternatively donate by text by texting ASHOK 5 to 70085 – calls cost £5 plus your standard network rate.

Finally, there is an exciting virtual event happening on the 23rd of October in the lead up to the intergovernmental climate conference in Glasgow – COP 26.

Organised by Willem Buttinger and Martin Brocklebank of Rotary E Club of East Anglia as well as Jane Penson of Rotary Gerrads Cross & Chalfont St. Peter, Professor Tim O’Riordan will chair a panel at this sustainability forum so it can be discussed what it really means to live a sustainable life.

He will be joined by a high profile and experienced panel consisting of:

  • Haley Pinto – a Psychiatrist and spokesperson for Greenpeace.
  • Prof Nitya Rao – Director of Norwich Research Park Institute for Sustainable Development.
  • Connor Bryant – circular economy entrepreneur and Co-founder of Rubbish Ideas & The Rubbish Project.
  • Jonathon Porritt CBE – a renowned environmental campaigner & author.

You can make a booking for a seat or to receive a video of the event here.