CLUB OF THE MONTH: Ilminster Lions

There is no club in Chard so many of the members are from that area and when the Taunton club folded, Peter Lawrence also joined Ilminster.

There are also members from many of the villages, particularly South Petherton.

The Lions is a very active club, with several main fundraising events per year with smaller ones in between.

The money they raise through the huge public support they enjoy, is distributed to many local charities as well as supporting third world projects. Donations range from £50 to help a youngster achieve an educational need, to many hundreds for major causes such at St Margaret’s Hospice.

President Phil Creed said: “I joined Lions 15-years-ago because I wanted to do something to help other people - whether it’s fundraising to support local youth groups or money to fund treatment for eye disease prevention overseas.

“I like the way that the Lions members work together to make something happen, making use of their different talents and interests.

“It means a lot to me that local people and businesses are so generous in supporting Ilminster Lions whether we’re selling draw tickets, helping us out with lending equipment for our events or taking out adverts in ourfFete programme.

“I like to think that local organisations and individuals can come to us if they think we can help them out. The Lions like to offer practical help and to enjoy themselves at the same time. It’s also good to share the company of like-minded people in the local community and to be part of†the wide network of Lions clubs in this country and around the world.”

Major events for the Lions are their summer fete, always on the third Saturday in June, the 10k race on the fist Sunday in November and the Christmas bazaar in South Petherton.

They always run an Easter egg raffle and usually a teddy bear raffle and more recently bank holiday car boot sales in the car park at Tesco.

In addition they collect used spectacles to pass on to places where they’re needed, and mobile phones, inkjet cartridges and used stamps for raising money. They help out at the annual senior citizens lunch and offer their services as marshals for many local events.

The club consists of 25 members who meet at the George Inn, Donyatt at 7.30pm on the first and third Mondays of each month.

They are always willing to talk about Lions to people who would like to join in their activities especially to bring in fresh ideas for community service and fund raising.

In 2008/9 they raised £17,000 which was shared mainly on a local level.
Recently the club donated £250 to add to the money raised at the West Street fish and chip shop to help Ronald McDonald House.

The collection in the shop had raised £300 and the Christmas tree they had in the church raised another £38.

The Lions also gave Marie Cullingford a bag of soft toys to give to the special facility for families to stay in, who have children in Bristol Intensive Care Unit.

Last week at their Monday meeting, the Lions donated  £2,500 to Help The Heroes in the presence of the Parachute Regiment Association and the Mayor of Ilminster, Councillor Margaret Excell.

Richard Lupton, volunteer group co-ordinator from Help The Heroes said: “What an extraordinary donation. We are a non political organisation there for the young people who come back from conflict and need help today.

“It was started in October 2007 with a plan to raise £6,000 to help those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and by June 2008 donations reached £13million.

"In 29 months we got to £40million and have been able to build a specialist rehabilitation centre where the officers can keep an eye on them during recovery and intense physiotherapy. This is a long legacy which will go on for many years to come. Thank you very much indeed.”

The mayor was also there to help present trophies to runners of the 10k, which had to be delayed after a technical hitch on the results last November.

The Lions get to meet and help a huge cross section of the community and have a lot of fun in the process, they work hard and play hard and always have a smile for others.

To find out more about the Ilminster Lions go to their website www.ilminsterlionsclub.co.uk.

PICTURE: Members of the Lions Club of Ilminster and District

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