Tree of Light Presentation Evening

Rotary Telford Tree of Light Distributes £42000 to Local Charities.

The Rotary Telford Tree of Light held its presentation evening, hosted by Rotary Club of The Wrekin President David Shelmerdine at the Hadley Park House Hotel on Thursday 27th February. This year the Rotary Telford Tree of Light, which is run by the Rotary Clubs of Ironbridge, Telford Centre, The Wrekin and Wellington celebrated its 24th campaign.

Chair of the Telford Tree of Light organising committee, Rotarian Max Clowes, said, “We are delighted to announce that this evening the Telford Tree of Light will distribute £42,000 to local charities. Once again the Tree has raised a huge amount for charity. The whole operation can only function with the voluntary efforts of Rotarians from each of the four clubs. The full cost of the appeal is met by the business community, other organisations and the Rotary Clubs themselves. This means that the entire amount donated by the public is distributed to the good causes.”

Max thanked those people and organisations that sponsor and support The Telford Tree of Light. This year the display stand at the Shopping Centre had come to the end of its useful life. The committee approached a number of organisations suggesting they might like to become Benefactors. The response was outstanding and enabled us to pay outright £5500 for the new display.

The names of those remembered are displayed around the Tree of Light in Telford Shopping Centre, in Wellington Dawley, Madeley, Ironbridge and Oakengates. The names are also published in the Telford Journal and on the Tree of Light website. Since 2001 the Severn Hospice has received half of the funds donated with the remainder donated to charities that serve the people of Telford.

Representatives of the charities nominated by the four Rotary Clubs received their donations and thanked the Tree of Light for their support. President Ruth Evans of the Ironbridge Club gave a cheque for £2625 to the Perry Riding for the Disabled Cavalier Centre; President Nick Burn of the Rotary Club of Telford Centre presented a cheque for £5250 to Rachel Lewis of Hope House: President David Shelmerdine of the Rotary Club of The Wrekin gave a donation of £2625 to Alan Olver of ManinPlace and £2625 to Kelda Wood of Climbing Out: Rotary Wellington President Vic Young together with President Ruth Evans of Ironbridge Rotary presented £7875 to Telford Samaritans.

Finally Chairman of the Tree of Light Committee, Max Clowes, presented £21,000 to Norma Ross of Severn Hospice. In conclusion Max said, “The success of the Rotary Telford Tree of Light has only been made possible thanks to the wonderful generosity of the people of Telford who donate to The Tree of Light to remember their loved ones at Christmas time. The very successful 2019 campaign is now over. Our team is already busy preparing for 2020, a very special year, the 25th year of the Rotary Telford Tree of Light.”

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