The Rotary Club of Timaru recently heard from representatives of organisations that had received donations from the Club’s Charitable Trust and other Trusts associated with the Club.
Peter Russell, Leola Smith, Craig Cooper, Kay Beatson, Tony Kerr, Rosie Oliver
and Rotary Club of Timaru President Andrea Lord (trying out the new wheel chair)
and Rotary Club of Timaru President Andrea Lord (trying out the new wheel chair)
Kay Beatson from Parkinsons NZ South Canterbury thanked the RJ & CF Moyes Trust for the donation of $4,000 to fund twice-weekly individual gym memberships for a year, and speech and singing exercise classes for approximately 25 people. Parkinson's South Canterbury supports approximately 100 people in the South Canterbury area, many of whom are housebound. Because there is no cure for Parkinsons, exercise is vital and the NZ Brain research Unit predicts numbers will double by 2035.
The Moyes Trust also provided funding to Multiple Sclerosis South Canterbury to purchase a lightweight wheelchair to be held by the Society, This will be used as a temporary loan to anyone with M.S who is waiting for their "made to measure" wheelchair through the health system which can take up to three months to arrive. Tony Kerr said that 95% of funding for Multiple Sclerosis comes from the community.
Craig Cooper, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2013, received $500 from the Eric Hall Trust towards an “Oceans of Hope Cruise” on the Spirit of Adventure from Auckland to Tauranga in November 2018. Forty people with MS aged between 32 and 72 from New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom and Denmark took part in this new initiative. All bar one climbed the mast and they all enjoyed working together in ‘watches’. Craig saw this voyage as an opportunity to meet up with other MS sufferers and to learn how they deal with the challenges of this disease.
Leola Smith, the manager from the Cancer society was very grateful for the fabulous furniture and shelving which was donated by the Club’s Charitable Trust for their renovated premises. Leola talked about the many services the Cancer Society provides in South Canterbury. Besides the six paid staff the Cancer Society has over 90 active volunteers, including drivers, volunteer receptionists, look good feel good catering and hosting helpers and others. The Society receives no government funding so it relies on fundraising, donations and bequests. The two main fundraisers are The Relay for Life in March and Daffodil Day in August. The Cancer Society is extremely well supported by the public in South Canterbury, with the local centre costing over $350, 000 to run annually.