Lions' charity pride (From Gazette Series)

Lions' charity pride

AMONG the latest donations made by Dursley Lions Club totalling nearly £40,000 during 2005 was £300 towards the cost of a specially-designed climbing frame for the Funbusters at Everlands Playgroup in Cam.

The equipment which cost £700 is proving very popular with the group's 56 youngsters aged two to five, many of whom helped raise the money with a sponsored bounce.

In the past six months Dursley Lions have made donations totalling £19,200 from their charity fund raising efforts plus £18,000 from the Frocester Beer Festival to organisations yet to be contacted.

"The fact that an organisation such as ours in an area like Dursley can give away sums approaching £40,000 is really heartening," said Dursley Lions Club President Ian Barnett.

"Among the major donations recently was £5,000 to the Cotswold Care Hospice and £3,000 to support a school in The Gambia.

"We could not donate sums such as these without the wholehearted support of the public at our annual Christmas dance, our regular Saturday morning sales of second-hand furniture and of course the Frocester Beer Festival."

Plans are already well in hand for this year's beer festival which will be held at Frocester on the August Bank Holiday weekend.

"The festival not only raises lots of money for causes local, national and international but also provides great entertainment for lovers of real ale," Mr Barnett added.

"There is only one problem. Our 37 Lions are all getting older and we really need some younger blood to join us so that our very successful furniture fund-raising operation can continue.

"Lions membership is not all hard work and a major share of the enjoyment is relaxing in the bar after our meetings or joining in our many social activities."

In February a party of Lions from Dursley will be travelling to Cornwall for sthe annual charter dinner of Newquay Lions Club. And this summer, Dursley Lions look forward to hosting a party from Cashel Lions Club, Eire.

Dursley Lions are also appealing for donations of wheelchairs.

"Over Christmas we had three requests for the loan of wheelchairs which we could not answer because our wheelchairs are either out on long or short term loan or undergoing repair," said Lions Welfare committee chairman Carl Smart.

"We would be glad of donations of unwanted wheelchairs in running order so that we can lend them free of charge on long or short loan."

Dursley Lions Club meets in the Lions Den, May Lane, Dursley every first and third Thursday in the month. For more information contact Dursley 543397.