Charity record for Ledbury Rotarians

2:30pm Saturday 16th August 2008

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LEDBURY Rotary Club is celebrating its most successful 12 months ever, raising over £20,000 for national and international charities.

The total is four times higher that the usual amount raised by the thriving club in any one year, thanks to a spirited campaign largely organised by member John Greedy.

Club spokesman, Neal Farr said: “The main event was a Antiques valuation and auction by Giles Hodges from the BBC 2 television show, Flog It!, combined with a wine and cheese party at Eastnor Castle.”

The club also raised money through a vintage car competition, a barn dance, a river trip, a sponsored club up Mount Kilimanjaro and collections at Somerfield and Tesco’s.

Mr Farr added: “It’s a record for us and a huge amount to raise in a little community like Ledbury, and it’s nice to be able to use the money so effectively in so many different ways.”

The main beneficiaries are the County Air Ambulance, and the Caribbean Diabetic Footcare Project, whiich was founded in Tobago by the Ledbury club, several years ago.

The club recently won a national Rotary award for its ongoing work in the Caribbean.

The club also gave £250 towards a new telephone system for Ledbury Age Concern and £1000 towards the cost of toilets at a school in Kenya.

Other beneficiaries include the Ledbury Poetry Festival, Marie Curie Nurses and the Farmers Overseas Action Group, to help pay for the training of a nurse in Africa.

All this comes at a time when club membership is soaring.

Mr Farr said: “Five new members were introduced this year, bringing out total membership to 40.

“When I joined nine years ago, we had 25, so it’s creeping up.”

Now the club is wondering how to keep the ball rolling into 2009 and beyond.

Mr Farr said: “It’s a lot to live up to.”