Charity Fundraising 2009

The Northern Branch once again utilised the annual dinner as an opportunity to raise funds for two key local charities with links to highways and transportation.

During the dinner members and guests were given the opportunity to donate “crinklies”, notes of the realm, by way of envelopes placed on the tables. By entering their personal details onto the envelopes we also managed to increase the funds raised through gift aiding. To spark a little enthusiasm various companies and some members of the Committee donated a number of prizes which were raffled during the night.

In all £1,195 was raised, being further enhanced by £330 gift aid from the Inland Revenue. The money has been split between the Great North Air Ambulance and the RNLI.

The Great North Air Ambulance is based at Langwathby, near Penrith, and services the northern area from Lancashire to Scottish borders. It is one of a very few air ambulance services to carry an on board doctor and costs on average £900 every time it is scrambled.

The Barrow RNLI station has been operational since 1864 and covers the coast between adjoining lifeboat stations at St. Bees and Morecambe. The donation provided will be ringfenced to the Barrow station for equipment and training under their “Barrow, train one, save many” campaign.