Rotary Club of Dronfield collecting for Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal

With just 8 days to go before the start of the 2015 Poppy Appeal the Royal British Legion made an emergency request for somebody to run the Appeal in Dronfield. The incumbent organiser had stood down after many successful years in the role and there was nobody to take on the task.

The club agreed they would take on the task as an emergency project and quickly set about identifying members of the community who had previously help with collections. Two Rotarians collected numerous boxes of Poppies and collecting cans along with other Poppy appeal products such as lapel pins, pens and rulers from the distribution centre. The main supermarkets in Dronfield were approached and three agreed to allow us to sell the range of Poppy products. Forty additional locations where identified including the towns sports centre, doctors surgery, schools, shops and offices. The task of delivering Poppies and collecting cans to these locations was undertaken by Rotarian volunteers.

The towns Army Cadet Force and Air Training Core were enlisted to help with weekend collections at the super markets with weekdays covered by Rotarians and community volunteers.

Once the appeal had closed Rotarian and volunteers came together for a morning to open and count the contents of collecting cans. A grand total of £11,066 was banked into the Poppy Appeal bank account which we felt was an excellent result.

Dronfield Mayor Liz Blanchard helping out at the appeal

(L to R) Sainsburys Manager, Rotarian Maureen Taylor, Mayor Liz Blanchard, President Brian Simpson, Rotarian Ian McMaster and a member of the Army Cadet Force

Solar powered lamps appeal

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Boost for three local charities

Record proceeds from a Classic Car and Bike Show held at Renishaw Hall last June have now been shared out between three worthy local charities. The annual event, organised by the Rotary Club of Chesterfield, this year raised over £7,000 resulting in healthy donations of £2,350 each being made to Ashgate Hospice, Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, and Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity.
Chesterfield Rotary president John Roberts presented the cheques at a special ceremony held at the Olde House, Newbold, on Friday 12 September to representative of the three charities. Also in attendance was Tony Cordin, group operations director of Autoworld, the charity event’s main sponsor.

Main organiser, past president Stuart Bradley said: “There was a record turnout for the 2014 event which means Rotary this year is able to make another significant donation to these three deserving local charities.”

He added: “Renishaw Hall is the perfect venue for this annual charitable event which we have run successfully for several years, raising thousands of pounds in support of these important local charities.”

Ester Price from Ashgate Hospice reported that even more patients were being cared for and a new £1 million appeal was due to be launched in October. The aim is to raise funds to cover a £250,000 a year budget deficit for the next two years, and £500k needed for urgent building maintenance work on the original grade II listed building, which is believed to date back to 1674.

Helen Mower from Bluebell Wood reported that the donation would fund one month of children’s activities in the messy play room; a room which is bursting with fun, games, arts and crafts, painting, and sensory play with activity coordinators.

Lucy King from Weston Park reported that the Cancer Hospital Charity was this year celebrating its 20th anniversary and was thankful to the many supporters who had helped raise over £16 million in that time. Weston Park is a leading centre for pioneering cancer research, treatment and care that provides vital services for the 60,000 cancer patients in this region.

President John Roberts presents cheques (from l to r) to Lucy King, community fundraiser for Weston Park Cancer Charity, Helen Mower, head of fundraising for Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, and Ester Preston, director of fundraising and marketing for Ashgate Hospice. Also pictured past president Stuart Bradley (left) and Tony Cordon of Autoworld

The main sponsor of this charity event is Autoworld, one of the leading New and Used Car dealerships in Derbyshire and the Midlands. Other sponsors include:- CMC Motorcycles, PCS Motor Factors, Noble Motorsport, BRM Solicitors, Stuart Bradley Jewellers.

The date has been fixed for next year when the Classic Car & Bike Show will once again be held at Renishaw Hall on Wednesday 10 June 2015.

For more information about Chesterfield Rotary go to www.chesterfieldrotary.co.uk