At the November meeting, (the annual inter-visit with our mother lodge, Loyalty Lodge) £372 was collected via the charity raffle. The Worshipful Master nominated Yorkshire Brain Tumour Charity as his selected charity to receive the donation. The charity is very close the the Worshipful Master’s heart after the recent sad, untimely death of a very close friend from an inoperable brain tumour.
When the Worshipful Master contacted YBTC’s Philanthropy and Partnerships Manager, Nicki Hood, by email to tell her of the donation, Nicki immediately replied saying, “I am rarely speechless, but your message has just stopped me in my tracks. Firstly, I am so sorry to hear about your best friend’s wife. Brain tumours are so unforgiving and my heart goes out to you all for how tough things must have been. Secondly, thank you so much for nominating us for your monthly raffle. That is so generous.”
The Lodge of Dawn’s Charity Steward, Michael Rose, dropped in to YBTC’s shop, and Head Office, on Otley Road (5 minutes from our lodge rooms at Castle Grove) to deliver the cheque. Pictured alongside Michael and Nicki is Keely Scanlon, Regional Fundraiser.
Afterwards Nicki said,”You never know who might be listening to you sharing news about the good cause you work for. This happened to me on a networking meeting in November. A visitor to the meeting had been affected first-hand by a brain tumour diagnosis. They took note of our charity and nominated us for a donation at the next meeting. We are humbled and delighted by this wonderful support.“
The vision of Yorkshire Brain Tumour Charity is a world where brain tumours are cured.
Their mission is to support patients and their loved ones through the devastation a primary brain tumour diagnosis can bring, making sure they have someone to turn to at any stage of their journey, while funding innovative research across Yorkshire to find better treatments and ultimately a cure.
Around 11,000 new cases of primary brain tumours are diagnosed in the UK every year, 15 each week in Yorkshire.
Treatments have been relatively unchanged for nearly 50 years and brain tumours are now the biggest cancer killer of people aged 40 and under in the UK.
Yorkshire Brain Tumour Charity want to change these statistics and make life easier for those who are affected, by:
- Providing emotional and psychological support for brain tumour patients, their carers and loved one through our telephone support line, online and email support, counselling for adults & children, 1-2-1 wellbeing walks, check in & chat peer support and bereavement support
- Issuing grants and financial assistance to brain tumour patients to support financial hardship or reduce social isolation, funding bridging grants for families awaiting a paediatric diagnosis and signposting for benefits and welfare advice
- Supporting hospital teams across Leeds, Hull and Sheffield, providing equipment, supplies and the little extras that make a big difference
- Low-grade paediatric patients agreed care pathway
- Supporting patients and their loved ones through providing practical advice across a range of online resources, our online support directory and book distribution
- Providing accessible support groups through regular meet ups, social get togethers, our drop-in cafes, group wellbeing walks and family events
- Seed funding research of new projects and proof of concept studies across Yorkshire
- Enabling patients and family members to have a voice through our Patient Advisory Group, representing views and experiences to inform the future
Everyone at The Lodge of Dawn is proud to support such a wonderful charity.
Charitable giving is a key part of masonic life. You can read more about The Lodge of Dawn’s charitable activity here.
If you are a Leeds-based charity and are interested in applying for a grant, please see our simple guide here.
Joining The Lodge of Dawn
If you are not a Freemason and, having read the above, would like to find out more, read our Seven Reason to Join The Freemasons, our guide on ‘How to join The Freemasons‘ or our simple ‘What is Freemasonry?’ page.
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