This year members of Oswestry Rotary Club are celebrating the 21st year of its annual Tree of Light Appeal.
For each of the last 21 years this event has raised valuable funds for local charities around Oswestry whilst allowing members of the public to commemorate the passing of a loved one or a happier event such as an engagement, marriage or birth.
Whether for larger charities like Hope House and the Midlands Air Ambulance or smaller groups such as Oswestry’s dementia support group Connect for Life the funds raised help finance the running of these valuable organisations upon which the Oswestry community depends.
“The coming of age of the appeal does not mean that we rest on our laurels.” says the Tree of Light Organiser Mike Jones, “We work hard to make the appeal grow year on year.
“With the support of the general public and our generous business sponsors we aim to raise over £6,000 per annum – all of which goes to local charities.”
The Tree of Light will be installed outside Sainsbury’s on Black Gate Street, Oswestry on Friday 23rd November ready for the lights to be switched on at 5:00pm on Saturday 24th November by Oswestry Rotarian Denzil Ellis following public carol singing lead by the Porthywaen Silver Band.
Mike Jones comments again: “I am delighted that Denzil will be switching on the lights this year for us as he has done so much behind the scenes for this appeal since it was started 21 years ago. This year Denzil has taken a step back but we are delighted to push him into the spotlight for this important task!”
But how to take part? For a minimum donation of £5.00 members of the public can send off the form in this magazine to the Rotary Club of Oswestry giving details of their commemoration which will be acknowledged by receipt and in the Book of Remembrance kept in Sainsbury’s during the appeal before being stored in Oswestry Library. Tax payers are able to Gift Aid their donation to increase its value.
Or, for those wanting to get their Christmas off to an enthusiastic start, they are invited to come along to the switch on of the lights and sing carols accompanied by the Porthywaen Silver Band from 4:30pm on 24th November outside Sainsbury’s from where sponsor forms may be obtained. Forms are also available from the Club website www.rotarycluboswestry.co.uk or from the Paperwrite shop on Church Street in Oswestry.
Last year donations were made to support 11 local charities including Oswestry’s renowned Movement Centre which supports children from across the UK with cerebral palsy, developmental delays and other problems of movement control through their world renowned Targeted Training.
Pictured: Back (l-r) Tree of Light Organiser Mike Jones, Rotarian Denzil Ellis, President Dave Davies Front (l-r) Curtis Langley Movement Centre Fundraiser and Physiotherapy Assistant, Lynne Ford Physiotherapy Assistant and Sarah Bew Physiotherapist
Pictured: Rotarian Denzil Ellis who will switch on the Tree of Light this year.
