Mayor Charity Cheque Presentation

The Mayors Charity Appeal for 2002 - 2003 was split equally between two worthy causes; Springhill Hospice and Cancer Research UK.

Fundraising events took place all year including the Civic Ball, dinner dances, local community groups held fundraisers including fetes and coffee mornings and local schools also contributed funds.

The cheques were presented by former Mayoress Lillian Gill who abseiled down the black box in June to help raise funds for the appeal.

At the town hall to collect the cheque for Springhill Hospice were the Hospice's chairman Margaret Geoghegan and two Hospice volunteers Derek Chapman and Sybil Poole.

The cheque for Cancer Research UK was received by Ruth Hardiman, who is the local Community Fundraiser. Ruth supports local groups and committees helping put their fundraising ideas into action as well as co-ordinating fundraising for Cancer Research UK.

Also at the town hall was John Groves, the Wheatsheaf centre manager to present the last fundraising cheque to Lillian on behalf of the 'Jail and Bail' event in which local businessmen were arrested and imprisoned in the Town Hall cells. Bail had be raised for each prisoner before they could be released. In the end almost £4,000 was raised from over sixty four sponsors.

Also involved was John Kay of Molesworths Bright Clegg solicitors; Mark Jones of Yearsleys; Graham & Colin Jackson of Jackson & Jackson Builders; Stephen Barton of Barton Kendal and Peter Roberts, leader of the Rochdale Council.