Rotary

IT’S a beautiful work of art and a symbol of the superb support from local Rotarians for Ark Cancer Centre Charity – and now the ‘Jane Talk’ bookbench has been installed as a key feature of the new wellbeing centre.

Cancer patients and their loved ones will be able to see the wonderful bookbench when they visit the Ark-funded centre in the Radiotherapy Unit at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital.

They've done it! Thirty fabulous Arkriders have cycled 500 miles through five countries in five days – and their fundraising has taken the group’s total past the £250,000 milestone.

The Arkriders have been at the heart of the community campaign to raise £5million for a new NHS cancer treatment centre in Basingstoke – and now the 2019 peleton have piled on the miles, and the pounds, in the latest formidable feat.

The big difference that local Rotarians have made to Ark Cancer Centre Charity and the NHS cancer treatment centre project was celebrated during a VIP visit today.

Ark was delighted to welcome Rotary District 1110 Governor Allan Smith, Assistant Governor Linda Lawson, from Basingstoke Loddon Rotary, and Basingstoke Deane Rotarians Lindy Richardson, Alan Gibson and Jim Lawson.

Thanks to the fabulous members of The Rotary Club of Odiham and Hook for delivering another fundraising boost to Ark Cancer Centre Charity.

The Picnic in the Paddock event took place at Swan Paddock behind Albion Yard, in Hook Road, North Warnborough, on Saturday, July 21, and the well-supported evening saw those attending enjoy a feast of music as well as their food and drink.

Organised by The Rotary Club of Odiham and Hook, the event raised £2,400 which was divided between Ark Cancer Centre Charity and St Michael’s Hospice.

It's a suitably big cheque for a big donation.

Mark Jones, director of fundraising and communications at Ark Cancer Centre Charity, is pictured (left) receiving a £7,500 donation from Mark Flower, President of the Rotary Club of Basingstoke.

The cheque presentation took place at the club's latest meeting at Dummer Golf Club, and a similar sum was handed over to Home-Start North West Hampshire.

Both charities were the major beneficiaries of a successful fundraising Charity Dinner that Basingstoke Rotary put on at Audley's Wood Hotel in Basingstoke in April.

Basingstoke Loddon Rotary Club members are long-standing supporters of Ark Cancer Centre Charity - and we'd like to say a big thank-you to the Rotarians for their latest generous donation.

The Basingstoke Loddon Rotarians, who have raised funds for Ark through their popular and successful annual May bank holiday duck races on the River Loddon at Barton's Mill, have boosted the Ark appeal by £1,000.

It was one of the most popular bookbenches on the Sitting With Jane bookbench trail – and now it has a new home.

Sitting With Jane was one of the most high-profile events in Hampshire in 2017 as the county hosted a series of events and activities to mark the 200^th anniversary of the death of world-famous author Jane Austen, who spent the first 25 years of her life in Steventon near Basingstoke.

Ark Cancer Centre Charity trustee Merv Rees has been honoured with a prestigious Rotary award.

Merv was one of two recipients of a Paul Harris Award - named after the founder of Rotary International - at the annual Basingstoke Deane Rotary Club Charities Night.

Ark Cancer Centre Charity is delighted to announce that members of the Basingstoke Loddon Rotary Club will once again be donating proceeds from their popular annual duck race day to the charity.

Taking place between 1.30pm and 3pm on Monday, May 28 on the River Loddon at Bartons Mill, Old Basing, the rubber duck races are a well-known fun annual event, and they always attract a flood of entries.

This year, the prize for the owner of the overall winning duck will be a flying lesson that has been kindly donated by Blackbushe Aviation.

Generous guests ensured a Basingstoke Rotary Club Charity Dinner gave local charities a real Spring in their step by raising more than £18,000.

One-hundred-and-sixty people attended the black-tie event on a beautiful evening at Audleys Wood Hotel (April 19) – and an enjoyable and memorable evening delivered a great result for Ark Cancer Centre Charity, Home-Start North West Hampshire and other local Rotary-backed charities.