The recent May Provincial visit to Hextoldesham Lodge No.5577, which meets at Hexham Masonic Hall, witnessed the presentation, by the Lodge, of a wonderful charitable donation to the tune of £5435, the proceeds of a 42 mile yomp along the length of the South Tyne from Alston to Hexham, and two social race nights and raffles, to W.Bro Trevor Fish, the Treasurer of the Association of the Friends of Scarbrough Court, the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institutes care home, right here in Cramlington.
The Association of the Friends of Scarbrough Court is a group of volunteers made up of Freemasons from the three supporting Provinces of Northumberland, Durham and Cumberland, together with family members of residents of the home. They arrange fund raising and social events to raise funds to pay for additional treats for the residents of the home, such as day trips birthday and Christmas presents, and regular entertainment for the home’s many residents.
The Team were later to find out that this fantastic donation was only the tip of the iceberg when it came to fundraising, and charitable giving, with the Lodge having raised just under a magnificent £28,000 in the last six years!!!
In addition to the amount presented on the night to Scarbrough Court, the Lodge have donated in excess of £22,000 to Tynedale Hospice at Home, which provides end-of-life care and support to patients in their own homes as well as hospital transport and bereavement support to help through the tough times, the West Tynedale Food Bank, Gateway in the Community, a charity which provides facilities for young adults with learning and physical handicaps, and Chrysalis, a local charity which provides day care and activities for dementia sufferers and some much needed respite for their partners.
These local charities have benefited from the Lodge undertaking a wide variety of events including sponsored walks along St Oswalds Way and part of the Pennine Way, a sports fun day and social race nights and raffles.
The current Master, W.Bro Kirk Barclay, has been the inspiration and motivator for the fund raising and whilst the physical challenges have been undertaken by the more able bodied members and friends, other less able members have given equally enthusiastic back-up and support. In addition the Lodges in the West of the Province have supported Hextoldeshams efforts.
Fundraising for Charities is one of the ways Hextoldesham Lodge is trying to get the attention of the local, as well as the wider, public to the merits of what Freemasons do.
Congratulations from everyone at Northumberland Freemasons for the outstanding achievements of the Lodge.
If you have a story, event, or news item that you would like to share, please email the Provincial Communications Team at news@northumberlandmasons.org.uk