Charities benefit from £12,000 of donations thanks to generous Clitheroe Rotarians

As reported previously in the Clitheroe Advertiser and Times, former president David Wymer, with the support of 60 plus members, handed out £9,000 to charities including Rosemere Cancer Trust, Ribble Valley Crossroads Care, The Salvation Army, East Lancs and Derian House Hospices, Citizens Advice Bureau, Macmillan Cancer Care, Ribble Valley Foodbank, along with several other deserving local causes.

David continued with his fundraising efforts and has now donated a further £3,000 to local projects. And the feedback from charities who received funds from the first £9,000 distributed has been fantastic. Volunteers have been telling Rotary how they intend to use the money.

Ribble Valley Foodbank have purchased a much-needed new mobile phone.

Jane Chitnis, Ribble Valley Foodbank Manager, said: "Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the way the Foodbank operates has changed, with much more reliance on e-mail and the telephone, so the money came just at the right time."

Meanwhile, Rosemere Cancer Foundation has used their donation towards funding a chemotherapy and cancer nurse specialist role. This includes being involved with new drug trials at Rosemere's Royal Preston Hospital Centre. Another recipient of the cash, Ribble Valley Crossroads Care have further invested towards their highly successful "Time For You" project, held at West Bradford Village Hall.

The initiative lets the cared for and carers come together for activities such as music, games, creative work or just chatting over lunch, giving carers a break and a chance to meet new and old friends.

Clitheroe Salvation Army were able to make a difference to the life of a young lady with mental health problems who was being discharged from hospital with a new flat to go to, but with no household goods. With Rotary's donation, the Salvation Army were able to provide bedding, crockery and small electrical appliances.

Another recipient of the cash, Northwest Blood Bikes were able to maintain their fleet of motorcycles, THOMAS, the Blackburn- based charity was able to purchase, amongst other things a barbecue, for their Witton Bank Centre which runs leisure activities. Macmillan Cancer Support thanked Rotary for its ongoing support.

A spokesman for Clitheroe Rotary said: "Rotary would like to thank our community for all the donations it has received over the last year, all that small change tossed into buckets, or attending the Community Bonfire, helps to make someone's life better.

"Clitheroe Rotary's new president, Jennie Schumann intends to take a new look at how Rotary support our community in the new world we find ourselves living in.

"Lots of volunteers have been working hard in the Ribble Valley over the last few months. We would love some of those volunteers to work together with Rotary as People of Action, so please get in touch. Just visit our Facebook page and message us, or e-mail Jenni Schumann direct at [email protected]

"We meet both formally and informally, via Zoom, and in small groups for social action. No need to join, just to roll up your sleeves and get involved with projects that have the backing of the world's largest service organisation, with all that goes with that, including items such as insurance."