Durham Lions celebrate 40 years of helping (From The Northern Echo)

Durham Lions celebrate 40 years of helping

3:20pm Friday 12th February 2010 in

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A CHARITABLE group is celebrating its 40th birthday.

Over four decades, the City of Durham Lions have raised about £500,000 for local, national and international good causes through activities ranging from raffles and tombolas to golf days and bike rides.

Money collected has boosted causes including Sight First, Dorothy’s Well, Water Aid and the appeal to buy new hands for Tilly Lockey.

This year, the group is supporting the Great North Air Ambulance and Help for Heroes.

However, membership has dropped from about 30 in 1970 to just 13 today and leaders are inviting anyone interested in getting involved to get in touch.

President David Leigh said: “Where we can capture the imagination of the public to support us financially, we will do it.

“We always pride ourselves on trying to have fun as well as raising money for good causes.

“This year, we’re introducing two new fundraising projects and hoping to boost membership.”

The City of Durham club was the first Lions group in the North of England to admit women members, ten years ago. It works alongside neighbouring branches in Lanchester, Consett, Stanley, Hartlepool, Peterlee, Darlington and Sunderland.

There are 860 clubs across the UK and worldwide more than 1.3 million members.

Lions try to channel any international funding through local groups in place on the ground, to ensure all the money goes to the people who need it.

And members of City of Durham Lions pay their own administration costs, meaning every penny raised goes to the chosen causes.

This year, they hope to raise £3,000 for the Great North Air Ambulance and a further £3,000 for Help for Heroes.

The 40th anniversary year began last September. Since then, the group has raised about £9,000.

Mr Leigh joined the group 38 years ago, just two years after it was founded. Now 74, he has served four full terms as president.

His favourite Lions memory is a charity bike ride from Durham to York in 1979, held to mark the 900th anniversary of the City of Durham, which was joined by renowned botanist and TV personality David Bellamy.

Peter Oakley, also a past president, joined in 1979.

Now 70, he also has fond memories of the Durham to York cycle.

Keith Vear, a six-time past president, joined 36 years ago.

Now 70, his favourite fundraising activity was the visit of Honley Male Voice Choir to Durham in 1986, during which they performed in a concert in Durham Cathedral.

The club is hosting a grand Brains of Durham charity quiz night at Framwellgate Moor Working Men’s club, Durham, on Wednesday, April 21, from 7.30pm.

Entry is £25 per team, of up to five people. First prize is £100, plus team and individual trophies and the title Brains of Durham.

The runners-up will receive £60 and there will be other trophies up for grabs.

The group is also organising a grand charity raffle. Prizes include a week’s holiday in the Algarve, Portugal, a weekend break in Edinburgh, and a case of wine. Tickets are £1 each.

Members would like to thank patrons of Bowburn Hall Hotel and Chilton Moor Hotel for raising more than £2,000 over the Christmas period.

The club’s charter night will be held at Durham Masonic Hall on Saturday, April 17.

City of Durham Lions meet every second and fourth Monday of the month at 7.30pm at the Daleside Arms, Croxdale.

For more information, call Peter Oakley on 0191-384- 9796, David Leigh on 0191- 378-2356 or Keith Vear on 0191-373-2353.