Successful Car Show Raises Funds For Three Local Charities

Renishaw Hall was packed to the gunnels for the annual Eckington Classic Car & Bike Show, organised by the Rotary Club of Chesterfield on Wednesday 11 June 2014.

A record attendance of nearly 3,000 classic car and bike enthusiasts from all over the region raised £7,000 for three local charities:- Weston Park Cancer Charity, Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, and Chesterfield’s Ashgate Hospice.

There were 500 classic cars, bikes, and scooters, on show from every era for the enjoyment of the 2,500 or so visitors who turned up in their droves to enjoy another superb event.

The winning classic car was a 1925 McLaughlin Buick, originally manufactured in Canada and imported for sale in England. Current owner is Bob Fergusson from Eckington who bought the car 25 years ago as a wreck after it had been garaged in London since 1939.

The winning classic bike was a 1961 500cc Triumph Tiger 100 SS owned by Lawrence Bradley of Bolsover. He has spent the last 7 years renovating the bike.

The winning classic scooter was a 1965 180cc Vespa SS 180 which has been owned by Ray Copley from Killamarsh for the last seven years. He is a member of the Killamarsh Nomads Scooter Club.

Main organiser Stuart Bradley said: “Renishaw Hall is such a splendid location for this charitable event and over the last 10 years the sum of nearly £40,000 has been raised for the local charities.

He added: “I want to thank everyone for their wonderful support once again and look forward to seeing everyone at Renishaw Hall in June 2015.”

There was musical entertainment from Direction Theatre Arts, variety of stalls and amusements, plus refreshments and bar. The event was sponsored by Autoworld, one of the leading New and Used Car dealerships in Derbyshire and the Midlands.

The next Rotary Classic Car & Bike Show is at Rectory Fields, Ashover on Sunday 27 July 2014, 10.00am to 4.00pm.

Swimathon Raises Over £2,000 For Kids With Cancer

A Swimathon by a retired school-teacher has raised over £2,000 to help kids with cancer..

David Windle, aged 69 from Newbold, and a past president of the Rotary Club of Chesterfield, has raised the money for the Chesterfield based charity Kids ‘N’ Cancer UK by swimming a marathon length 26 miles 385 yards.

His sponsored swim took place over the week 7-11 October 2013 when he swam 3,516 lengths of the pool at Ringwood Hall Hotel Health & Fitness Suite in a total time of 16 hours 56 minutes.

David Windle being congratulated on his achievement by his wife Jenny Windle and Chesterfield Rotary Club president nominee Geoff Mitchell

David Windle said: “I am absolutely delighted that thanks to some wonderful support I have now exceeded my initial target and have so far raised £2,300 for the charity.”

Although Kids ‘N’ Cancer UK is currently organising one of the biggest fund-raising events to hit the town in September 2014, with the very first Chesterfield & Derbyshire Marathon, David Windle chose to make his fund-raising contribution by swimming a similar length instead of running.

David Windle explained: “I am stronger at swimming that running so decided to raise funds for the charity with a sponsored swim rather than a sponsored run and am really pleased to have completed the swim in a personal best time.”

He added: “I raised over £1,000 with a sponsored swim of a similar distance a few years ago in support of Rotary’s ongoing worldwide Polio Plus campaign, which aims to rid the world of polio, but despite being a few years older I was actually quicker this time round.”

David Windle explained that he felt compelled to help the charity in its efforts to support children and their families who have a variety of problems associated with cancer after hearing about the charity from founder Mike Hyman

Kids ’N’ Cancer UK is a charity designed to help children in the UK receive life-saving Proton Therapy treatment for their cancers and tumours. As some children diagnosed with cancer do not qualify in certain situations for funding by the NHS, the charity and its patrons assist families caught up in this sad situation of not meeting the criteria.

For more details about David Windle’s sponsored swim, and to make a donation, go to www.justgiving.com/KidsNCancerSwim

Sponsored Swim To Help Kids With Cancer Brought Forward

A swimathon by a retired school-teacher to help kids with cancer has been brought forward because his training regime in the build-up has gone so well.

David Windle, aged 69 from Newbold, and a past president of the Rotary Club of Chesterfield, is raising vital funds for the Chesterfield based charity Kids ‘N’ Cancer UK by swimming a marathon length 26 miles 385 yards. His sponsored bid will now take place over the week 7-11 October 2013 at Ringwood Hall Hotel Health & Fitness Centre instead of two weeks later as originally planned over the week 21-25 October. So far over £500 has been raised.

Eager David Windle said: “For the last month I have been training four hours a day, everyday, and as I am now ready to go I have brought my swimathon attempt forward to start two weeks earlier from Monday 7 October.”

He added: “I am really looking forward to the swim and am so very grateful to all those who are sponsoring me as this is really all about helping children with cancer.”

Although Kids ‘N’ Cancer UK is currently organising one of the biggest fund-raising events to hit the town in June 2014 with the very first Chesterfield & Derbyshire Marathon, David Windle has chosen to do his fund-raising now by swimming a similar length instead of running.

David Windle said:- “I feel I am stronger at swimming that running so decided to raise funds for the charity with a sponsored swim rather than a sponsored run.”

He added: “I raised over £1,000 with a sponsored swim a few years ago in support of Rotary’s ongoing worldwide Polio Plus campaign, which aims to rid the world of polio and, whilst I am still fit enough, I want to do my bit this time to help children with cancer.”

Charity founder Mike Hyman explained: “Kids ’N’ Cancer UK is a charity designed to help children in the UK receive life-saving Proton Therapy treatment for their cancers and tumours.  As some children diagnosed with cancer do not qualify in certain situations for funding by the NHS, the charity and its patrons are determined to assist families caught up in this sad situation of not meeting the criteria, and we will always try to assist families where possible.”

Mike Hyman added: “We are very grateful to David, and all our other fundraisers, as their efforts help towards making our mission possible.”

For more details about David Windle’s sponsored swim, and to make a donation, go to www.justgiving.com/KidsNCancerSwim   Details about the charity www.kidsncancer.org.uk

Top Rotary Honours Awarded

Two hard-working former presidents of the Rotary Club of Chesterfield have been awarded the top honours in Rotary. Past presidents John Keeton and Bryan White each received a Paul Harris Fellowship for their continuing efforts and dedication to Rotary in a short ceremony performed by Rotary District Governor Peter Moralee on his official visit to the Chesterfield club on Friday 23 August 2013. The two Rotarians, who were presidents of the Chesterfield club in 2010-11 and 2008/9 respectively, are pictured with their medals and certificates.

Paul Harris was the founder of the worldwide Rotary movement in 1905 and it has since grown into an international phenomenon with more than 1.2 million members across 200 countries. The Rotary Club of Chesterfield was first chartered back in 1922 and, in common with all other Rotary clubs, continues to support the disadvantaged in communities at home and abroad through a variety of projects and initiatives.

District Governor Peter Moralee said: “Rotary is at the heart of every community. In just about every town and city, there is a Rotary club, and its members are passionate about the community in which they live and work.”

President Mike Cudzich-Madry said: “Honouring hard-working members with a Paul Harris Fellowship is a tradition of the Chesterfield club and past presidents John Keeton and Bryan White are the latest rotarians to have deservedly earned that recognition.”

Pictured from left to right: President Mike Cudzich-Madry, Past Presidents & Paul Harris Fellows John Keeton and Bryan White, District Governor Peter Moralee