W.Bro Ian Richardson, of St Nicholas Lodge No.1676, which meets at Byker Masonic Hall, is a Founder Member, and one of two who run the North East Marathon Club has in the past ran marathons to raise funds for our 2020 Festival. In 2019 he ran marathons to raise much needed funds for local charities, which included Teddies For Loving Care, to which he donated £2500.
The running club recently held three events on the Newcastle Town Moor, which again generated money for local charities. TLC was again amongst those selected to receive a donation and, at the last meeting of St Nicholas Lodge, Ian presented the TLC Northumberland Representative, W Bro Dennis Frazer, with a cheque for £1000.
Ian mentioned that the recent running events also generated a donation to a local Scout Group who come along to help out with marshalling and looking after the drinks station at the Club’s running events. The Scout Group are raising funds for the World Scout Jamboree in Korea later this year.
On receiving the cheque, Dennis took the opportunity to appraise the Lodge members and their visitors on how TLC performed last year, including informing them that the Charity now supports 21 NHS Units around the Province and, in 2022,, had provided over 10,500 bears. He also stressed that the Charity expenditure had almost doubled from the previous year and that the donation received from Ian would greatly help in ensuring the Province continues to provide bears to help NHS staff calm children when they are being examined and treated.
Many thanks to W Bro Ian Richardson and all those involved with the North East Marathon Club for their generosity and ongoing support to local charities.
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