Newcastle Lions and Daisy Lodge promote childhood cancer awareness

During the month of September, Lions world wide are promoting Childhood cancer Awareness Month. For Lions , this is significant as it is one of the Lions International global causes. In working alongside staff from Daisy Lodge, Newcastle Lions are making a big effort to try to promote, this global cause. This will include a coffee morning, a talk show and a Daisy Dander. Staff from Daisy Lodge, have also provided information packs to local businesses and highlighted the awareness month through the big electronic board at Bon Bon.

For families of children suffering from Cancer, a wonderful facility is available in Newcastle to give them some respite. This facility was known as Narnia, but this was enhanced with greater numbers of families being accommodated, when Daisy Lodge was built. This is a purpose built therapeutic centre located in Newcastle.

To help support the work of Daisy Lodge helping children with cancer, on Saturday 23rd September at 10.30 am the public are invited to meet at the Cone of Light on the Newcastle Promenade and walk a 1009 steps in support of children with cancer. With the kind permission of Newry & Mourne Down District Council, the promenade will be decorated with flower theme artwork by the group, Creative Village Dundrum. The Lions are also thankful to Raymond Shannon REC,NI for providing first aid cover. The public are encouraged to make a donation, to the Lion collectors present that morning, to the Daisy Lodge Appeal to help them in their work.

Photo: Aisling Gibson South Down Regional Fundraiser Cancer Fund for Children and Lions Coordinator Marian McGreevy prepare to promote event at eh Cone of Light

The Daisy Dander

During the month of September, Lions world wide are promoting one of their five global causes, namely Childhood cancer . In working alongside staff from Daisy Lodge, Newcastle Lions are making a big effort to try to promote, this global cause. This will include a coffee morning, a talk show and a Daisy Dander. Staff from Daisy Lodge, have also provided information packs to local businesses and highlighted the awareness month through the big electronic board at Bon Bon.

In trying to help families of children impacted by Cancer, they can avail of a wonderful facility in Newcastle to give them some respite. Originally this facility was known as Shimna Valley and in 2005 Narnia, but this was enhanced with greater numbers of families being accommodated, when Daisy Lodge was built. This is a purpose built therapeutic centre located in Newcastle.

The Daisy Lodge facility has been amazing, since 2014, a total of 3,500 families have stayed at there with 12 families being accommodated each week. At present 224 families are awaiting a short break at the facility. In Northern Ireland today, there are 109 children who are currently being treated for cancer.(( source N.I.Childhood cancer) In trying to raise awareness of the work of Daisy Lodge in helping the 109 children, Newcastle Lions Club have organised a Daisy Dander. On Saturday 23rd September at 10.30 am the public are invited to meet at the Cone of Light on the Newcastle Promenade and walk a 1009 steps in support of the children. With the kind permission of Newry & Mourne Down District Council, the promenade will be decorated with flower theme artwork by the group, Creative Village Dundrum. The Lions are also thankful to Raymond Shannon REC,NI for providing first aid cover. The public are encouraged to make a donation, to the Lion collectors present that morning, to the Daisy Lodge Appeal to help them in their work.

As another Lion year draws to a close

As another Lion year draws to a close, Newcastle Lion President Liz Murphy, can look back as a job well done. One of our service activities is the recycling of used spectacles.

The club has collected spectacles from different sources. Lions logo collection bins have been distributed to local opticians, Mc Gloins and Specs - Xpress, as well as Newcastle Library, and Eyeworld , Mc Gloin's opticians Belfast and now Castle Espie Wetland Centre. As well as distributing bins , the club also collects glasses from the four Belfast City Council recycling centres and from Portview Fit-Out Limited.

Portview is a world class company, they deliver beautiful interior fit-out projects for the world’s top brands, combining style and substance to achieve The Perfect Fit.

The involvement with Portview is something the Lions hope can go from strength to strength in marketing Lionism. Portview began life in Belfast in 1975 and over the years carved a niche in the fit-out market. Whether it is football, jewellery or clothing, this Belfast Company has completed contracts with Arsenal F.C., Tiffany Covent Garden or Issey Miyake. In 2019 it won its first SBID International Design Excellence Award and it also collects used spectacles for Newcastle Lions Club.

Photo, Staff from Portview Fit-Out Limited , James Mc Collum and Berina Rice Purchasing Manager present Lion Dan O'Reilly with a box of used spectacles.