Rochdale Rotary Club’s President raises for £3,500 for Alzheimer's Society

Rochdale Rotary Club’s President Keith Banks recently handed over to the new President, Ravi Sharma, in front of over 50 Rotarians and friends and gave a cheque for £3,500 to the Alzheimer's Society’s Danielle Freeman, Community Fundraiser for Greater Manchester.

Danielle said: “On behalf of the Alzheimer's Society I want to thank the club for the generous donation and I invite members of the club to train as Dementia Friends, helping sufferers with dementia and their carers to cope better.”

 

 

New Rotary President Ravi said: “It is a proud day for me to follow in the footsteps of so many fine, inspiring and hardworking past presidents. It will be a challenge, but am very much looking forward to my year in office.”

"I intend to make our club more visible to the Rochdale community and attract more new members and friends to help the club’s projects; the Rotary art gallery in Rochdale Exchange with resident artist Geoff Butterworth; a Simply Music event to help the lonely; a Seniors Out day at Castleton Bowling Club and a desalination project in collaboration with Leeds University.

"The club also supports Rochdale Foodbank, the Petrus Community Store and shoeboxes for vulnerable children in Eastern Europe.

"The annual cricket dinner is on 3 September starring ex-England spinner Graeme Swann who has recently been a Strictly Come Dancing contestant and has a good line in comedy. Net proceeds will continue to support youth cricket coaching.

"The Rotary Youth Speaks speechmaking competition goes from strength to strength and Falinge Park School will again host the event next January.

"The club also has close links with Rochdale Sixth Form College, Falinge Park High School and other Rochdale schools.

"My charities this year are the Buddybag Foundation for vulnerable children without a settled family life and The Women’s Chai Project, a support group for South Asian, black and minority ethnic women living in Oldham and Rochdale.

"Overseas charities the club supports are the Rotary Foundation for the End Polio Now campaign and Lending with Care which microfinances projects to help budding entrepreneurs.

"A number of fundraising events include another Classic Car show in 2020."

Finishing the evening on a musical note, singer Annie Valery sang some nostalgic songs from the Everly Brothers and other pop icons of the 50s onwards.

Anne was presented with a donation of £300 by club secretary Bob Chadwick to go towards dementia support.