With the success of the Gryffe Valley 10K Run in May 2019 the club had raised (and spent) more than £250,000 over the twenty-four years since its formation in 1995. This is a huge achievement by the thirty-five members, who include 9 founder members.
Up to June 30th 2018, the total raised was £239,303 and it was forecast we would reach £250,000 by the Rotary year-end. In 2019 funds were raised through members efforts at the BBQ (August), the Curry Night (October), the Santa’s Sleigh (December), the Burns Supper (January), the Car Wash at Beaton Bros (April), stalls at the Kilmacolm show and the Houston show and, in May, the 10K Run supported by Arnold Clark. The total at 14th June 2019 was £256,161. In June 2021 it reached 278,000.
A full listing of the beneficiaries of the monies raised up to June 2018 is published on the club website at Brochure180630-1.pdf ,Brochure180630-2.pdf . Averaged over the years, 60% of funds raised have been devoted to Community and Youth and 40% to International (including Rotary Foundation, Emergency Relief and International Projects).
The top-ten beneficiaries in the first twenty-four years were:
Wheelyboat for wheelchair users at Castle Semple Loch £30,000
Rotary Foundation – Rotary’s own charity £17,716
Renfrewshire Young Carers – eleven annual outings £17,289
CHAS children’s hospice £13,000
500 miles charity providing prosthetics in Africa £12,750
Shelterbox emergency shelters £12,594
Renfrewshire Therapeutic Toy Library £10,000
St Vincent’s Hospice £9,500
Disabled Sailing at Castle Semple £7,247
Dentistry in Romania £5,845
At the other end of the scale more than 200 donations in the range £50 to £500 have been made to deserving local groups and individuals.
Major beneficiaries this year are the local hospice (St Vincent’s), Young Carers, local Youth Services, End Polio, Mary’s Meals and Shelterbox.
Gryffe Valley Rotary has many requests for help but is still always interested to hear from individuals or groups of opportunities to support local projects financially or through member’s efforts. Please contact the club via the contact button on the website (Google Gryffe Valley Rotary) or by speaking to a member.
'What We Do' Main Pages:
Long distance walking route - the length of the Gryffe Valley from the source of the river near Loch Thom to Linwood
moreSummary of the activities of Gryffe Valley Rotary during the year 2022-23 as presented at the handover of the Presidency from Mike Farley to Ian Jackson
moreClimate Change series- eminent speakers from around the UK in the months leading up to and following the COP26 summit in Glasgow in November 2021
moreDespite Covid the club has maintained its competitions and projects with local schools Hundreds have taken part and enjoyed some success at local, District and National levels!
moreTo encourage walking in the local environment, we are promoting local walking groups, publishing local walking routes and creating the Gryffe Valley Way, a walking route the length of the River Gryffe.
moreThe club has now raised (and spent) more than £278,000 over the twenty-six years since its formation in 1995.
moreTo support disabled sailing for wheelchair users at Castle Semple Loch Gryffe Valley Rotary purchased a special powered Wheelyboat to enabled those in wheelchairs to get out onto the water.
moreThe club organises outings for groups of Renfrewshire Young Carers, with activities followed by a meal and drink. Some years we visited Xscape at Braehead, more recently it has been The Experience at Hillington for the electric go-karts.
moreWith the support of local opticians, Rotary collects and distributes used glasses across the world.
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