2018-2019 Thame Rotary Charity Donations

The Rotary Club of Thame & District thanked the local communities of Thame and neighbouring villages for their support with the fundraising during the 2018-2019 Rotary year at an event which took place at Thame’s Spread Eagle on Wednesday 19^th June 2019.

The local public actively supported the club’s main fundraisers, Thame Swimathon in March and other events. The amount donated during past 12 months reached almost £10,000. Thomley, Red Kite Children’s Centre, Maple Tree Children’s Centre Wheatley and ROSY are the main charities who received donations and support towards projects.

The event was attended by charities representatives as well as the Top 3 groups who fundraised for Thame Swimathon charities: Thame Swimming Club, Barley Hill School and John Hampden School’s Team Ice Cream and Rapid 6.

Graham Colverson has also recognised the outstanding contribution towards communities of three Thame Rotary members: Peter Hook, John Singer and Hamish MacDonald by awarding them the Paul Harris Fellowship Award. Graham presented the awards together with Gillian Pearse, Governor of the Thames Valley Rotary District (1090) which covers most of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire.

Peter Hook had a major contribution towards the set up of an Interact Club at the Wheatley Park School aimed at young students aged between 13 and 18. Interact Club’s work for the community had a focus on fundraising towards CLICK Sargent during 2018-2019.

John Singer secured more projects towards good causes through his Rotary Business in the Community initiative encouraging local Thame businesses to give employees opportunities to volunteer.

Gillian Pearse said about Hamish MacDonald: “What a pleasure to give a Paul Harris Fellowship on behalf of Dr Himansu Basu to Hamish MacDonald in recognition of his support of maternal and child health globally. The reason for the PHF was given by Graham Colverson's wife who received care from Dr Basu. It’s a small world. Hamish was delighted to receive his award from the District Governor who is also a midwife. Dr Himansu Basu was representing a Rotary Project Calmed at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and was unable to be present.”

Jo Sackett, Barley Hill School PTFA trustee, has driven the recruitment of 5 teams from Barley Hill who thoroughly enjoyed their participation at Thame Swimathon. Jo said: “It was wonderful to join Rotary for dinner last week and to hear all about their recent activities in the community and see some of the Rotary members receive well earned rewards. They are an amazing group of people and we are so privileged at Barley Hill School to work with them on a number of projects and support each other where we can.”

Graham Colverson said: “The charity presentation evening is a special event in our calendar as it gives us the opportunity to provide financial support to local charities that, as this year’s club president, I have selected. These awards are in addition to any benefit that might have been gained through our Business in the Community project and my wish this year has been to focus on organisations that help children. We were delighted, therefore, to welcome representatives from: Maple Tree Children's Centre, Red Kite, ROSY, Thomley and Thame Youth Café; together with representatives from Thame Swimming Club, Barley Hill School PTFA and John Hampden School whose teams were the top three fund raisers at our major fund raising event - the swimathon - which took place in March.”

Marius Ciortan, spokesman for the Rotary Club of Thame & District, said: “The Rotary Club of Thame and District is grateful to the local community for supporting all our fundraising events.”

Marius concluded: “To continue our projects for our local communities in the months and years to come, we are welcoming new members from the local communities of Thame, Chinnor, Long Crendon and neighbouring villages who can join our world of fun, friendship and fundraising. To express your interest to join our vibrant club, please visit www.thame.rotary1090.org or like us on www.facebook.com/thamerotary “