CONGRATULATIONS

To our Regional Lions Leadership Institute Graduates

Mud Masters

Returning for the second year with more mud and more obstacles, the Mud Master Obstacle Course Race organised by the Lions Club of Weston-super-Mare welcomed 200 participants to overcome its challenges.

The event saw teams, individuals, clubs and partners tackle mud pools, cargo nets and Space Hoppers, to name but a few of the 20+ obstacles. The 5k, 10k or 20k course tested people’s strength, endurance and encouraged teamwork, not just from the pals that were persuaded to sign up, but from other individuals who were taking part.

Hosted by the Weston Lions Club alongside Puxton Park, this year’s main beneficiaries are the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity, Weston Hospice care and Children’s Hospice South West. All proceeds raised go towards supporting these charities and the local community. This year’s event raised over £5,000.

The event saw volunteers from the charities, local clubs, friends and families of the Lions and local photographers who all helped out and make the day such a success.

The Mud Master was the first big event of the year by the Weston Lions, and now the planning for the Real Ale and Cider Festival has begun! The festival is a well-loved event, and many thousands visit over the weekend and, in doing so, help support the chosen charities! This year’s beneficiaries are Weston Hospice care, Sands, Pancreatic Cancer UK and Go Kids Go.

Lion Victoria Bach

Aside from these big events, the Weston Lions have still been supporting the local community in many ways. The first winner of the Pride of Weston Lions Aware, in memory of Bryan Fowler, was named in March at the 50th Charter Anniversary. The local charity, Our Way Our Say, (OWOS), received a donation towards the charity as well as a personal gift in recognition of all its hard work. The Lion’s Club has donated to OWOS on other occasions as its outreach and goodwill in the community and the activities and projects it runs are amazing and so worthwhile.

Michelle Clearly from OWOS, explained what the Pride of Weston Lions winning donation would be used on –“We have desperately been looking for a grant to start an intergeneration garden group to fix up an overgrown garden area. We are doing this as lots of local people live in flats with no garden, so it would be fab if they helped make this into a usable space to use ongoing. Your funds will help us do a little pilot project on the idea and film it in the homes. It will work in funding bids we do to run it across the year.”

The Lions Club also donated £500 to Aishahs Food Charity, which gives away 100s of meals a week to local people and refugees, and which also contribute hot meals to two other charities that help the needy.

A Casino Night was held in which the Lions served as croupiers for blackjack, roulette and on the dice table – all in support of the Fly High Charity who were raising funds in memory of Terry Gilbert to help other charities in need.