Spa Masons present cheque to Friends of the Cancer Centre

Spa Masons present cheque to Friends of the Cancer Centre

14 November 2018

MEMBERS  of Spa’s Masonic Royal Arch Chapter 703 have raised the generous sum of £1,000 for Friends of the Cancer Centre at Belfast City Hospital.

The fund raising drive was inspired by prominent Ballynahinch businessman Jackson Charles, who was so impressed by the work of the charity while undergoing treatment at the Centre he decided he had to do something in return.

Mr Charles, recently elected the Excellent King of the Chapter — the third time he has been accorded this honour — encouraged his colleagues to support sponsored suppers at meetings of the Lodge and pledged to personally match the amount raised.

The initiative culminated last week with a wine and cheese reception and the presentation of the sponsorship cheque to Miss Sarah Breen, fund raising officer for Friends of the Cancer Centre.

The charity supports patients in Northern Ireland with cancer diagnosis in a number of important ways including the sponsorship of 32 specialist nurses and the provision of refreshments, reading material and other comforts for those undergoing treatment.

“The Friends of the Cancer Centre do such excellent work in making the visits to the hospital much less stressful and I had been thinking of some practical way of helping the charity,” Mr Charles said.

“We decided to provide suppers at our meeting and ask the members to make a donation. Our wine and cheese event tonight has been kindly sponsored by David Smyth and I am delighted our efforts have raised so much for the charity,” he said.

Mr Charles thanked all the Lodge members who responded so willingly and generously to the appeal.

Miss Breen thanked Mr Charles and his colleagues “for such a fantastic donation” and assured everyone it would be put to very good use by her charity.