Page 20 - EssexMason (Issue 86) Online Version

Charity

3000 Mile Road Trip
will help 700 children every year across Essex

ssex Freemasons have joined with charity Lifelites in an epic 3,000 mile journey across
EBritain - part of a nationwide fund raising challenge to ensure that 700 terminally ill and
disabled children living in the county, receive the specialist care they need. Essex Mason
Approved
The charity, supported by local Masons for more than 20 years, works with all of the four children’s hospices
operating in Essex – Little Havens, Thundersley; Haven House Children’s Hospice, Woodford Green; The
J’s Hospice, Witham and Saint Francis Young Adults Group in Romford - supplying specialist computers and
software.
In Essex, this means that the charity empowers 700 children and young people every year with life-limiting, life-
threatening illnesses and disabling conditions by providing them with opportunities to be creative – and more
importantly to communicate and to take control of their lives – in many cases right up to the moment of passing.
Local Freemasons have traditionally funded much of the £25,000 needed each year to ensure that Lifelites can
continue its good work in Essex and were pleased to support the latest initiative – a 3,000 mile road trip by Charity
chief executive Simone Enefer-Doy, linking up 47 different Masonic counties, with the added twist that in each area,
all transport had to be a little unusual.
Colleagues in Kent chose to transport Simone via the Tilbury Ferry, where she was greeted by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master for Essex, Paul Reeves, driving a genuine
Bangkok Tuk Tuk. Then on to Tilbury Fort for quick photocall and fi nally to Cheshunt to meet Masons from Hertfordshire.
“Although we support hundreds of different charities across Essex Lifelites has always had a special place in the hearts of local Masons,” said Paul Reeves, “because of
the fantastic work they do in the county.”
“Meeting Simone at Tilbury was another opportunity to thank her for all that she and Lifelites do for our children via local hospices – and of course we could not let her
go away empty handed and was delighted to present another donation of £2,500 to help ensure that work can continue.”
“Essex Freemasons are dedicated supporters of Lifelites, and we’re so grateful that they volunteered their time and vehicles to help us complete this challenge – the
Tuk Tuk was also a little bit special helping to make my visit even more memorable,” said Simone.
“We have been absolutely blown away by the response we’ve had from volunteers all over the country and can’t thank people enough. The money they’ve helped us to
raise will be life-changing for the life-limited and disabled children that we support in each area.”
Lifelites is a small, but very hard working charity and are determined to do all that we can to impact the lives of children who don’t have the same opportunities that we
do due to the confi nes of their condition. Every moment is precious for these children and their families, and Lifelites want to make sure they can make the most of every
second.

Stifford Heath Lodge 8327tifford Heath Lodge 8327
S
tifford Heath Lodge No. 8327 welcomed a visit from the Assistant Provincial Grand
SMaster W.Bro. Chas Elliott who presented the Lodge with their certifi cate of
achievement as Patrons of the Essex 2022 Festival. The picture shows the certifi cate
being presented to W.Bro. John Keens who had been Installed as Master during the
meeting.
To add to the occasion W.Bro. Chas Elliott was surprised when he was presented with a
cheque for £4000, making a total of £13000 which would qualify the Lodge as Grand Patrons
of the Essex 2022 festival, by the Charity Steward W.Bro. Richard Bowyer. Afterwards the
Lodge enjoyed a lively Festive Board, where W.Bro. Chas eventually got his voice back.

Shoeburyness Lodge 6665hoeburyness Lodge 6665hoeburyness Lodge 6665
S S Shoeburyness Lodge 6665

The Lodge was delighted when Mrs Barbara Oliver the wife of the late Tony Oliver, the Lodges IPM and
Almoner came to Saxon Hall, together with the Lodge Charity Steward Ian Hunt and Lodge DC Roy Bryant, to
present a cheque for £2500 to Kayley Fletcher of the Southend Hospital Chemotherapy Unit.
The cheque represented W.Bro Tony Olivers Masters List and was for the unit in which Tony had been receiving
treatment for the last 3 years. In a testament to this ladys strength of character she is continuing to assist
the Lodges stand in Almoner with looking after the Lodge widows. Barbara also abseiled down the Tower of
Southend Hospital on Saturday 18th May to raise more money for the Hospitals Chemo Unit, what a Lady!!!

Henry de Gray
Raise £1000 for Gurjit was delighted to accept
the cheque which helps to raise
money for Sands in memory
of all the babies that are born
On Saturday 2nd February W.Bro Steve Hall – Charity Steward of Henry asleep. This donation will
De Gray 6627 presented a cheque for £1000 to Gurjit Thandi , the local help to provide a Cold Cot for
representative of the Sands Stillbirth & Neonatal Death Charity. Whipps Hospital in East London

Provincial Grand Charity Steward

W.Bro Colin Felton PADGC colin.felton@essexpgl.org
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