Welcome to Falmouth & Penryn, Cornwall, UK
News
Visit your favourite pub and help to support local charities. Easter Eggs in the Halfway House, the Star and Garter, the Pandora Inn, the Boslowick Inn, the Punchbowl and Ladle and the Red Lion are being raffled on behalf of Lions. There are also eggs in Secret Chocolate Box and the Town Barber, for those who cannot enter licensed premises on moral, ethical or other grounds! No excuses!
Twenty teams took part in the annual Swimathon held at Carn Brae on March 25th, including two teams from the Sea Cadets and 2 from the Docks Table Tennis Club. Over the last 9 years, the Lions Clubs who organise the event have raised over £45,000. This year's charirty was the Phoenix Stroke Appeal.
We were also busy at Falmouth's annual Flower Show, not exhibiting our blooms, but helping assemble to stands. Behind the scenes is one of our specialities.
Our congratulations to Rhiannon Close, 18, who was sponsored by Falmouth and Penryn Lions to represent the area in the South West District Ambassador of the year award scheme. Rhiannon is a Petty Officer with Falmouth and Penryn Sea Cadet Corp. In the finals held at Crewkerne, Somerset on January the 8th she beat seven other finalists to become the South West Young Ambassador of the year.
At multi District finals in Birmingham in February 2012 she did us proud, but unfortunately did not win. The winner must have been quite exceptional.
Charity Trust 2011
In July, Lions President Dave Mills presented cheques to the beneficiaries of the Charity Trust account, which include:
- Shelterbox,
- Elderly Peoples' Outing,
- Cornwall Youth Cricket,
- Penryn Old Peoples Club,
- Cruse Bereavement Care Cornwall,
- Cornwall Women's Refuge Trust,
- Penryn Federation,
- Cornwall Rape and Abuse Trust,
- Foodbank,
- Pants,
- Holiday for a local family.
Lions and many of the recipients of the Charity Trust.
Golf
Each year we organise a sponsored golfing tournament at Falmouth Golf Club. The proceeds of this event go to a specific charity. in 2011 the selected charity was the Motor Neurone Disease Association. This year it will be Help for Heroes.
Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks the upper and lower motor neurones. Degeneration of the motor neurones leads to weakness and wasting of muscles, causing increasing loss of mobility in the limbs, and difficulties with speech, swallowing and breathing.
President Dave Mills presents a cheque to representatives of the MND, supported by fellow Lions.
We are also grateful to Richard Mitchell who masterminded the tournament and Falmouth Golf Club for their support in this event.
Other activities
Besides supporting good causes financially we provide people power. You will find us helping out as marshals in many local events like Falmouth Carnival, the Moonlight Memory Walk (this year in support of the SW Children's Hospice) and the Santa Fun Run, besides running stalls at local shows, including the Royal Cornwall and Penryn Fair, where we are often tirelessly making bacon or sausage baps, selling second hand books, or just generally helping out, for example at Falmouth Flower Show. You will also see us every Wednesday through the summer on the Prince of Wales Pier where you will have the opportunity to win an 'andsome cuddly lion of your very own! From time to time you might even see our mascot, Alan the Lion, if he has escaped from his handlers. Do not be afraid, he's toothless, and cross-eyed. We'll happily accept sponsorship to take part in events to support particular charities, and you might even see a couple of us as Gamesmakers at the 2012 Olympics.
Each year we organise an Easter Egg raffle, where tickets are sold in local pubs. Despite the fire at the word famous Pandora Inn (one of our sites!), we raised a good sum for Cornwall Cancer Charities.
Recently we were approached to find a deserving home for an electric wheel chair, which we were pleased to do.
Some of our support goes to youth activities, like the local Sea Cadets and the annual Youth Cricket Festival, held at St Gluvias Cricket Club.
Every year we organise the Tide Race, where teams of up to eight build and defend a huge pile of sand against the incoming tide. This hugely popular participation and spectator sport helps raise money for local charities. It is supported by the Gyllyngvase Beach Cafe, who generously provide the prizes.
Lions are an international network of 1.3 million men and women in 205 countries and geographic areas who work together to answer the needs that challenge communities around the world.
