|
Foresters saw the good work — and got busy
By
Gary Moug
OUR sick kids appeal swelled to the tune of
£6000 last week, thanks to the Strathclyde branch of Foresters and the public who supported their fundraising efforts.
 Foresters is a financial services provider with members in the UK, America and Canada. Every year, they raise millions of pounds for good causes.
Last
year the Strathclyde branch raised more than £6000 to buy a
portable incubator for the neonatal unit at Yorkhill. And this
year they wanted to raise more money, which is being donated
through our campaign.
|
 Duncan presents the Foresters’ cheque to Joan MacLeod of
Yorkhill Children’s Foundation.
|
Branch treasurer and charity fundraiser Duncan Kelly explained, “One of our members had a premature baby and noticed the neonatal unit was short of incubators. So we raised cash to buy one. That’s when we realised just how expensive equipment is and how vital it is to raise money for children’s hospitals.
Special
“Joan MacLeod, fundraising manager for the Yorkhill Children’s Foundation, came out last week and explained to us that, at this time of year, many of the kids in hospital can’t join in at Christmas.
“So they bring in things like outside entertainers and arrange visits from Santa to make Christmas that wee bit special for them. There’s also a cinema for children who can’t go home.
“I have children and grandchildren, but fortunately my family has never had to use children’s hospitals to any great degree. Though one grandson did break his arm and received terrific treatment at Yorkhill.”
The events Foresters have held over the course of this year to build up the charity fund include —
Bucket collection in shopping centres at Braehead and Clydebank.
Mother’s Day lunch, where a tombola was held.
Quiz in Perth.
Sponsored fun run.
Father’s Day lunch, complete with auction.
Hallowe’en lunch and raffle.
Anniversary dinner at which voluntary contributions were donated.
Craft sale of handmade cards.
The branch also has a monthly meeting, where members have gone without tea and biscuits, instead putting the money towards the fund.
Duncan added, “We raise money for all sorts of things including leukaemia research and CHAS. Our volunteers are charity-minded and the total amount we’ve raised this year is just over £15,500.
“Foresters is an organisation that looks after its members. We don’t have shareholders so we can focus on helping our members make a real difference in their communities.
“We have five branches in Scotland and one regional council, 68 branches in England and others in Canada and America. Our international headquarters is in Toronto, though it originated in the UK as the Royal Order of Foresters in 1745.
“In Strathclyde, we have 2264 members and we put on all sorts of functions like dinners, dances and theatre nights — whatever our members want in their area.”
IF YOU have a
special reason for contributing to or raising funds for our appeal
then we’d like to hear from you.
It could be that
you’d like to thank caring staff for the treatment they’ve
provided in your hour of need. Or perhaps a relative spent time in
one of Scotland’s children’s hospitals and the experience has
left a lasting impression on your family’s life.
Whatever the reason,
please let us know.
We’d be delighted
to share your experiences with our readers. And, who knows,
it may inspire others to follow in your fund-raising footsteps.
|
|
Back
to campaign main page
|
You can e-mail us at:
hospitals@sundaypost.com |
