16/01/2012

Masons Support Local Charities

Freemasonry in the Community

Parkinsons UK, Trinity Hospice and Thames Hospicecare each received donations from the Freemasons' Grand Charity at a special lunch hosted by the leader of Berkshire's freemasons, Martin Peters, at the Berkshire Masonic Centre in Sindlesham. The total amount donated was over £13,000.

Clair Lubbock from Trinity Hospice thanked the Grand Charity and said that the money would go to support the hospice's community nursing service that helps 2000 patients each year.

Helen Saich, speaking on behalf of Thames Hospicecare, said that it was the organisation's 25th year in operation. The hospice costs £4m every year to run and, as the NHS pays only 20% of that cost, it is very dependent on donations and grants. Approximately 1000 patients are cared for each year in the 17 bed hospice in Windsor and the community nursing services are run from Ascot. Helen thanked the Grand Charity for their support.

Mary Hansworth explained the role of Parkinsons UK is to support and fund research into the disease and to run local support groups around the country. She also thanked the Grand Charity for its donation and said that the money would be put to good use in funding a conference at which information about the disease and ongoing research can be shared.

Martin Peters spoke about his plans for the future of masonry in Berkshire. One of his key areas for development is to increase the contribution made by Berkshire Freemasons to the communities in which they and their families live and work.



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