The Lions Club of Clacton on Sea
Old Stories from 2010
SEARCHING LOTS
Can you help Clacton Lions? We are urgently looking for items to be lots for their Grand Charity Auction which is being held on Saturday 9th October 2010. This Auction will raise funds for the many charitable causes supported by the Club
In previous years, the items donated have ranged from old Red Telephone Boxes to Clarice Cliff China; from Beswick and Royal Doulton figurines to Bicycles and motorised scooters for the disabled. We already have the donation of a fully fitted Doll’s House worth over £1,000 for this year’s auction.
If you are able to donate items of china, porcelain, small pieces of furniture, object d’arts and collectibles, or even functioning electrical items, for example, then please call Trevor on 01255 861827. Unfortunately we cannot accept large items of furniture that will not fit in a car or items of clothing.
BEN’S A LIONS WINNER
The Lions’ Young Ambassador Award is a prestigious award designed to recognise youngsters between 15 and 19 years old for their work in their local communities. Starting with local heats, successful contestants can progress to recognition at an international level.
16 year old Ben Chandler of Dixon Avenue, Clacton on Sea was sponsored by the Lions Club of Clacton on Sea in the 2009/10 competition went on to win the East Anglian Heat just before Christmas 2009. Earlier this year, he went to Dudley in Warwickshire to compete in the British Isles and Ireland Final where he narrowly missed out on winning.
Since then Ben has given a moving talk at the Annual Convention of the Lions Clubs of East Anglian in Norwich.
Ben, who is a studying for his A levels at Clacton County High School, is a Petty Officer Cadet – the highest rank available – at Walton Sea Cadets and was the unit’s Cadet of the Year in 2009. Ben is a qualified Sailing Instructor, being Cadet Commodore at Clacton Sailing Club; he also teaches new intakes at Clacton Sea Cadets and is London Area Navy Board Cadet for 2010 which requires him to attend events in the London Area representing the Sea Cadets, meeting royalty, politicians and other dignitaries and making speeches.
As well as raising funds for a number of charities, Ben has also represented local young people as a member of the Tendring District Youth Council and the Young Essex Assembly. He is working towards his Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award.
Ben was awarded a trophy and a bursary of £100 from the Lions Club of Clacton on Sea and another trophy and a bursary of £500 for winning the East Anglian Heat. These bursaries are going to Ben’s chosen project which is Walton Sea Cadets.
Now the search is beginning for young persons between ages 15 and 19 who are active in community work to take part in the 2010/11 competition. They could be members of the Scouting Movement, Guides, St. John Ambulance or Red Cross, or not even linked to any formal group. All they need is a commitment to helping others and someone to nominate them.
Further details and entry forms are available from Lion Brian Stephens on 01255 426151 or by e-mail at youth@clactonlions.co.uk.
DASHED IF SHE DIDN’T WIN IT!
Local shopper, Mrs Jean Swinton from Clacton, was amazed to hear recently that she had won the Spring Trolley Dash Draw run by the Lions Club of Clacton on Sea.
Mrs Swinton did not feel able to do the Dash herself so asked her nephew, Michael, to do it in her place. Guided by his aunt, he was let loose within the Morrison’s Superstore at Little Clacton on Sunday morning for two minutes. In total, goods to the value of £218.93 were collected in the two minutes and Mrs Swinton was also presented with a bouquet of flowers at the end of the dash.
2 other lucky people won Morrison’s vouchers worth £20 each. They were Mrs Mandara and a Mr Curtis of Clacton on Sea.
Clacton Lions’ Fund Raising Chairman, Dave Pattinson, said that the Draw had raised over £700 for Lions charities and the Club were delighted with the result. He also thanked the management and staff at Morrison’s at the store in Little Clacton for all their assistance.
Male Cancer Gets Big Boost From Lions
Research into Prostate and Testicular Cancers received a big boost recently when Clacton Lions handed over a cheque for £2,000 to representatives of the Everyman Cancer Campaign.
Everyman Cancer Campaign is one of Lion President Alan Mercer’s charities for his year in office and the funds were raised by the sale of the Lions’ Annual Quiz Sheet , A Quiz Night and a Trolley Dash organised by Brightlingsea Lions, the Clacton Lions new branch club.
Everyman Cancer Campaign representative Carol Green and Darren Couchman congratulated the Lions on a magnificent sum raised for much needed research. Darren is currently appearing on television in a Cancer Research advertisement.
Photo shows The Testicle Tour at the Clacton Lions Presentation Evening with their cheque. Darren Couchman and Richard Miller were joined by Carol and John Green and Lion President Alan Mercer with Lions Ron Londors and Dave Pattinson.
Lions Provide Relief for Haiti
Following the massive earthquake that struck the impoverished Caribbean nation of Haiti last Tuesday, Lions in communities around the world are supporting the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF), which is in contact with Lions in the immediate area and in neighbouring Latin American countries and area to assess the situation and determine immediate needs and how Lions and LCIF can best assist.
“Lions are committed to bringing aid to those impacted by the earthquake in Haiti. Through support from people in our community, our club and LCIF will be able to help so many more,” said Lion President Alan Mercer of the Lions Club of Clacton on Sea.
Within 24 hours, Lions worldwide have pledged nearly US$250,000 to the Foundation to help support relief efforts. In addition to Lions donations, LCIF has awarded a US$50,000 Major Catastrophe Grant to help provide for immediate needs for victims of the earthquake. Immediate relief efforts will centre on providing water, food, medicine, tents and other essential needs.
LCIF is also working directly with Lions of Haiti as well as Lions in neighbouring countries to develop a long-term reconstruction plan. LCIF Chairperson Al Brandel and his wife Dr. Maureen Murphy will be travelling to the Dominican Republic in the next few days to lead a team delivering urgently needed supplies into Haiti.
Lions around the world are also assisting:
· Lions in neighbouring Caribbean countries are sending cargo containers of targeted supplies through connections with transportation companies.
· Lions in Sweden are sending large tents through the Swedish government to provide housing for those who are now homeless as well as relief workers, as they did for the China earthquake.
· Lions from District A-9, Ontario, Canada were in the area when the earthquake hit, helping to establish a clean water system for an orphanage, and established a make-shift medical clinic, treating 600 people.
Like other previous disasters, LCIF is not only committed to meeting the immediate needs of the people, but will be working through the Lions in the region to provide relief for years to come. As an example, LCIF is still helping those in South Asia recover from the December 2005 tsunami, Gulf States recover from Hurricane Katrina in August 2006 and China to rebuild following the May 2008 earthquake. After other relief organizations have moved on to the next disaster, Lions will still be on the ground, overseeing long-term reconstruction projects.
Similar to other disasters, Lions hope to rebuild homes and hospitals, redevelop the eye care delivery system, human resource support and provide help for disabled, including those disabled as a result of this disaster.
Donors can assist Lions on the ground and Lions Clubs International Foundation in responding to this disaster with a designated donation to the "LCIF Haiti Earthquake Relief" Fund.
To donate please send any cheques to Lions Hope for Haiti c/o FREEPOST NAT22803, Clacton on Sea, Essex CO15 1BR made payable to “Lions Club of Clacton on Sea” and marked on the reverse "LCIF Haiti Earthquake Relief"
Lions Clubs International Foundation is the charitable arm of Lions Clubs International. Established in 1968, LCIF is committed to providing humanitarian services to those in need, including providing disaster relief, saving sight, supporting youth and combating disability. Each year, LCIF typically awards US$2 million in emergency grant relief funding. LCIF was ranked by a recent Financial Times study as the top non-governmental organization with which to partner. Learn more at www.lcif.org.