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FESTIVE NEWS • DECEMBER 201��PAGE 25
LIONS SUPPORT FLYING MEDICS
Hereford Lions Club has donated a further £ 5,000 to help keep the Midlands Air Ambulance flying. The vital service was one of Colin Smith’ s main projects during his year of office as club president and he started his term with a £ 5,000 cheque and after a successful year of fund-raising was able to end his presidency in July with another £ 5,000 donation.
Said Colin, who also supported Air Ambulance with £ 10,000 when he was president in 2003,“ This is an absolutely vital service which receives no funding from Government or National Lottery, relying entirely on public donations. I am sure everyone who has supported Lions fund raising events will agree it is a worthwhile cause.”
Air Ambulance was launched 25 years ago with just one helicopter and has since carried out over 46,000 missions. Today, it operates three helicopters across the Midlands, including Herefordshire, at a cost of £ 7m a year. The cost of each mission averages £ 2,500, so Colin’ s two cheques have paid for four life-saving missions.
Pictured at the £ 5000 cheque presentation at the Air Ambulance base at Strensham are( l to r) Colin Smith, Dave Hartland,( current lions president) crew members Mark Dennis, Kelly Bennett, Mike Smyth and Simon Swancott, club secretary.
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losing their eyesight, and mobility, one of the first of the Batten symptoms, a disease n in Britain. his was an unbelievably kind gesture by Lions Club and will create lots of wonderful t forever” ident, Colin Smith:“ Everyone in the club wanted to do something special for these ery uncertain future and a Disney holiday was the obvious choice.” to be funded by the club’ s new Community Support Foundation set up with the proceeds mer Holiday Home in Burnham-on-Sea which for 40 years provided free holidays for two years ago. r the trip to Paris dad, Jody, told Festive News:“ This was a fantastic adventure for the brilliant with them and meeting all the wonderful Disney characters they had only their story books was extra special. We certainly have a book full of memories thanks
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BE A LIONS FRIEND
Lots of people want to do their bit to help their local community, but do not necessarily have the time or inclination to join an organisation.
Ian Foster, a member of Hereford Lions Club has come up with a simple solution – become a Friend of Hereford Lions Club and lend a hand with the club’ s community service work whenever it suits you. There is no cost, no meetings to attend and no formal commitments. Just the opportunity to register as someone willing to devote some time when it fits in to your own busy schedule. It could be once a month or once a year. It could be an easy way to find out if community service is something you would enjoy doing.
For example it could be volunteering to drive the Lions mini-bus occasionally taking the elderly or the handicapped on an outing, playing Santa at the Lions Grotto or on the Lions Sleigh, serving drinks at the Lions annual Racenight, or being a parking steward at the Lions Car Boot sales.
Said Ian, who is in charge of the Lions community transport service,“ Many people have told me they would like to do something to help the community, but for a variety of reasons cannot make a full commitment. The idea of being a Friend with no formal ties is the ideal way around the dilemma.”
To find out more contact Ian Foster on 01432 880816
THANKS, SAYS MARLEY’ S MUM
Watching Marley George set off on his first ride on his new bike bought by Hereford Lions Club( see page one story) are club president David Hartland and Marley’ s mum Vanessa Gross. Marley, 18 relies on a wheelchair to get around but the specially built three wheeler is a life changer for the teenager. In a letter of thanks to the Lions Vanessa says:” The bike is absolutely awesome for Marley, providing vital exercise to build his strength and stamina, but it also gives him the opportunity to go for a bike ride like other teenagers.” She added,” The work Lions do helping people in the community is truly remarkable.”