MORE than £35,000 has been handed out to around 30 charities and good causes.

The Rotary Club of Durham raised a grand total of £35,176 this year, which has now been presented to organisations working in the city.

President Ed Kear said: “We are so lucky in County Durham that we have so many essential services which are delivered by an enormous range of essential local charities, run by a huge number of volunteers who all give extremely generously of their time, skills and support.

“We would like to express our sincere thanks and appreciation for the vital work they do, and wish them all the best for the forthcoming year.”

The annual donations presentation ceremony took place at Finchale Training College, in Pity Me, Durham.

All those who were given funds have been invited to take part in the rotary club’s annual Swimathon, which takes place at Freeman’s Quay, in November, which is one of the charity’s main fundraising events.

The rotary also raised money by running a regular car park in the city centre on Saturdays, and through events including its Santa Sleigh tour.

Local charities to benefit this year include St Cuthbert’s Hospice, Durham Soldiers, Downs Syndrome NE, Durham Pointers, Open Gate Durham, Salvation Army, The Cheesy Waffles Project, LionMouth rural centre, Headway County Durham, Durham Agency Against Crime, Daft as a Brush Cancer Support, County Durham Stroke Club, Great North Air Ambulance, Laurel Avenue Community Association and St Nicholas’ Church.

The full list of beneficiaries is as follows:

• St. Cuthbert’s Hospice

• Durham Soldiers

• Downs Syndrome NE

• Guide Dogs of the Blind Association

• Open Gate Durham

• Salvation Army

• The Cheesy Waffles Project

• Lion mouth Rural Centre

• Headway County Durham

• DAAC - Durham Agency Against Crime

• Daft as a Brush Cancer Support

• County Durham Stroke Club

• Great North Air Ambulance

• Laurel Avenue Community Association

• Treetops Children’s Ward, University Hospital of North Durham

• Revitalise

• St. Nicholas Church

• Josie’s Dragonfly Trust

• The Rainbow Trust

• Age UK County Durham

• DFW Adoption

• Durham Hospital Radio

• Teenage Cancer Trust Unit

• County Durham Talking Newspaper

• Finchale Training College

• Leukemia Care

• Durham City Remembrance Parade

• YHNE – Youth Homeless North East

• DCC Students to Durham NC

• Durham-Tees Mountain Rescue

• Blood Bikes

• DASH – Durham Action on Single Housing

• Chemore

• Love Burundi

• Durham Pointers

• Talking Newspaper