Prom run cheque boosts new Lions team (July 2009)

Lancaster and Morecambe Lions Club’s new top table team were under starter’s orders when Alex Rizenko of Lancaster and Morecambe Athletics Club dropped in on the club to hand over a cheque for £200.
 The money was raised when the Lions provided marshals for the athletics club’s 10k run along Morecambe promenade in June.
Earlier in the year the Lions had made their debut as race marshals for the athletic club’s 20 mile Trimpell run. This had proved a major success on both sides and looks to be the first of an ongoing partnership between the two clubs.
Receiving the cheque was the first official job of the new Lions president, Keith Walker of Morecambe who said: “The partnership began after the Lions approached the athletics club with the idea of organising their own fund raising races, but it soon became apparent that it was better for us to provide marshalling services for races already organised by the athletics club.
“Marshalling the first two races has been a major success both financially and in raising the profile of both clubs and we are already planning to marshal forthcoming races.”
Alex said: “The feedback we have had from runners in both the races which Lions have marshalled has been first class. It has also generated interest in marshalling which is a major benefit to our club.
“While the runners are the public face of any race, the event simply could not be help without the organising team behind the event of which marshals are an integral part.”
The new Lions top table team is made up of president, Keith Walker, secretary, Andrew Dodgson, and treasurer, Mike Kaliszczak.

Local charities team up to get young Alex on his bike (June 2009)

Getting on his bike is five-year-old Alex of Heysham who is now busy pedalling his way on outings with the rest of his family – something he was unable to do until two local organisations teamed up to buy him a tricycle meeting his special needs.

It all started when his mother, Gillian, asked both Lancaster and Morecambe Lions Club and Lancaster Round Table if they could help the family buy Alex a custom built tricycle. Alex, who has a range of problems including autism and mosaic Down’s syndrome, had tried a larger model of the tricycle at school and loved the freedom the machine gave him.

The two clubs got in touch with each other and agreed to share the total cost of a tricycle, nearly £700, for Alex who pedalled into Morecambe for an official handover. The specialised machine can be steered and pushed using a rear mounted handle. It also has a wide range of adjustment and should serve Alex until he is about ten-years-old.

His family have assured the two clubs that when Alex has grown too big for the machine that it will be passed on to a child with similar problems, or to a school where it will benefit other children.

Gillian said: “The tricycle means that Alex can now pedal alongside the family, including his younger brother and older sister, on family outings. It will also be a big help in developing his co-ordination and muscle development.

“Alex has communication difficulties, but the smile on his face when he is on the tricycle tells its own story. That is something special. We have to thank both organisations – their help has made a tremendous difference to our family and, especially, Alex.”

Making the official handover were Roger Walker, chairman; and Lewis Saltariche of Lancaster Round Table together with Craig Milnes, president of Lancaster and Morecambe Lions Club. They agreed that Alex’s tricycle was one of the most rewarding causes they had supported. They added that there was real potential for charitable organisations to work together, particularly where relatively high value support was needed.

20 mile run boosts Lion funds (April 2009)

Helping marshal a 20-mile run, the Trimpell 20 organised by Lancaster and Morecambe Athletics Club, earned Lancaster and Morecambe Lions Club £350.
The run, which is used by many athletes as part of their preparation for the London and other marathons saw some 500 runners complete the course.
One of the athletics club organising team, Alex Rizenko, dropped in on the Lions to hand over the £350 cheque.
He said: “The all important feedback from runners on how the event was organised and run was extremely positive. A key part of this was the work of marshals giving directions to runners and manning the water stations. The partnership between our athletics club and the Lions club worked extremely well and we hope to work together again at other events.”
Lions club president, Craig Milnes said: “We initially approached the athletics club with the idea of organising our own race, but it soon became apparent that a partnership with the Lions providing marshals for some of the events organised by the athletics club would be a better option for all concerned.
“Fortunately the weather was ideal for the run and our members thoroughly enjoyed their day as marshals. We are maintaining close links with the athletics club and hope to work together again on some of their future events.”

Over 100 years of Lions! (April 2009)

Over 100 years of long service awards were presented to six members of Lancaster and Morecambe Lions Club when the club held its 40th anniversary charter lunch in Morecambe.
Heading the list was the club’s only remaining charter (founder) member, Brian Holden of Forton with 40 years’ service closely followed by Keith Watson of Halton with 30 years in the club.
Three other members – Graham Haddington of Halton, David Milnes of Heysham, and George Kissane of Leigh - all took home 15 year awards. Completing the line up was Susan Dodgson of Scotforth with a 10 year award.
Apart from George, who transferred to Lancaster and Morecambe from another North West Lions club, all have completed their service in Lancaster and Morecambe including serving as club presidents. George is a former Lions District Governor for North West England.
Lancaster and Morecambe Lions Club was awarded its Charter in October 1968 after coming of age from its mother club, Preston Lions. However it regards its first full year serving the local community, 1969, as its foundation year.
Now the only remaining charter member, Bryan Holden said: "In late 1967 three members of Preston Lions Club, who lived and worked near Lancaster, invited friends, colleagues and others interested to a meeting with a view to forming a new Lions club in the area.
“From this meeting Lancaster and Morecambe Lions Club was formed. Its Charter Presentation Dinner was held in October of the following year with about 24 members present.”
The modern Lancaster Morecambe Lions Club has just under 30 members supported by families and friends and raises thousands of pounds each year through collections and events. This is used to help a wide range of, mainly local, organisations and individuals who need their help.

Lions 40th anniversary grants presented (May 2009)

Cheques totalling £1,600 were handed over to locally based organisations by Lancaster and Morecambe Lions Club at a special meeting in Morecambe as part of the Club’s 40th anniversary celebrations.
The club had allocated total funds of up to £2,000 for its anniversary grants while continuing to accept and process requests to help under its standard procedure.
Collecting cheques were:

Handing over the cheques, club president, Craig Milnes said: “The scheme worked well and we invited all the recipients of the grants a meeting where each was invited to give a short presentation on the work of their organisation and how the grant funds would be used.
“What impressed us was the wide range of applications we received. These were considered by our Welfare Committee who passed on their recommendations to the club. While this was a special promotion, the club has continued to consider and accept requests for help outside the 40th Anniversary scheme which is now closed.
“As much as we would have liked to meet every request under the scheme, this was just not possible but those who were unsuccessful are more than welcome to come back to the club in the future.
“Now part of our work must be to work on fund raising to replenish our funds so that we can help more people and organisations in the future. Of course we must thank the people of Lancaster, Morecambe and the surrounding area who so generously support us in our work which made the 40th anniversary scheme possible.”

Morecambe winner in Lions young ambassador competition (Release: February 2 2009)

Providing affordable live music for the people of the West End of Morecambe is one of the ambitions of 18-year-old, Sylvia Pearson of Morecambe, young ambassador for the North West District of Lions Clubs International.
A sixth-former at Heysham High School, Sylvia was put forward as the Lancaster and Morecambe Lions Club selection for the award and went on through a tough selection process to become the choice for the Lions District 105BN – the North West of England. She now goes on to compete for the UK national title.
Sylvia has strong links with Lancaster and Morecambe Lions Club being the grand-daughter of the club’s secretary and former president, Joe Pearson, of Halton. A gifted singer, she has entertained at many Lancaster and Morecambe Lions Club events including its twice yearly senior citizens’ parties. She also plays the cello and has a ‘basic understanding’ of the piano.
She has also been deeply involved with the setting up of Shockwaves Radio founded and run by a group of Heysham High School sixth formers. She also works with Stanley’s Youth and Community Centre, a new venture offering youth club and drop in facilities for the young people of the West End of Morecambe. The project also gives Sylvia the chance to use other skills including being a Hi-Five netball coach.
“I intend to use any money I am awarded from the competition to help a new joint initiative between Stanley’s Youth Centre and Shockwaves Radio.
“The money will go towards renovation, decorating and equipping Stanley’s building for live music events and studio space for recording and broadcasting.
“This would help provide a new channel for helping new local talent progress within the music industry and to provide affordable live music for the people of the West End of Morecambe,” said Sylvia.
On Saturday mornings and in holidays she works at the British Red Cross shop in Morecambe on Saturday mornings and during school holidays. She is also a safety steward at Morecambe FC home games.
“This has given me the opportunity to work closely with people I wouldn’t necessarily work with. It has also opened new opportunities for me. These include the prospect of spending part of my gap year before helping with the British Red Cross work abroad before going to university,” she said.
Sylvia plans to study theology at university and go on to join the church, but she also plans to maintain contact with Shockwaves and with Stanley’s Youth and Community Centre.
Lancaster and Morecambe Lions Club president, Craig Milnes said: “Both we and the district selection panel were deeply impressed in the range of Sylvia’s interests both at school and in the local community. On top of this she has regularly given her time and musical skills as part of the entertainment at club events, and especially our senior citizens’ parties.
“We all felt that Sylvia is a worthy winner of the award and we wish her well for the future.”

Heysham winners in peace poster contest (January 15 2009)

Peace paid off for three students from Heysham High School when they took the top three places in the local heat of a Lions International peace poster competition. The heat was organised by Lancaster and Morecambe Lions Club.
Taking first place was Lauren Cassidy with Aimee McClintock second and Georgia Bond collected the third place ticket. All three are former pupils at Westgate School, Morecambe (CORRECT) and are now in year 7 at Heysham High School.
Vice-president of Lancaster and Morecambe Lions Club, Rosie Ryder said: “This is part of an international competition run by Lions to promote world peace. The top three posters from the Heysham pupils were of a particularly high standard this year and we congratulate the girls on their work.
“Apart from promoting peace, it is good for our club to be encouraging and helping young people within our community and thank the team at Heysham High School for all their help and support in running the competition.”
The local competition was judged by Lions club members, Rosie Ryder, David Milnes and Alvin Atkins. Apart from the girls’ own awards, Lancaster and Morecambe Lions Club presented the school with £35 which will be used for a special school award for hard working pupils later this year

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