Freemasons ladies evening raises a magnificent £4,000 for charity

At the ladies evening of Lodge of Harmony No 220 of the Garston Group, the magnificent sum of £4,000 was raised in aid of charity. One of the beneficiaries of this sum went to supporting the work of the Walton Centre Liverpool, the only NHS trust within the country dedicated to neurological science. The hospital provides specialist neurology and neurosurgical care, for not just the North-West but also the Isle of Man, Wales and indeed referrals from across the whole of the UK, treating over 100,000 patients a year.

It was the specific wish of lodge WM Jim Corcoran and his wife Beryl that the work of the centre be recognised, and so on a lovely sunny afternoon Jim was pleased to present Clinical Director of Pain Medicine, Doctor Manohar Sharma, and head of fundraising at the centre, Madeline Fletcher with a cheque for £1,600. The monies will be put to good use in supplementing the work of this world-class facility, in particular with innovation and research, medical technology, staff training and family and patient facilities.

Over the past three years the Walton Centre Charity support team of Madeline, Samantha Barrowcliff and Anne Hodgson based within the hospital has worked to raise over £3,000,000. With the Marina Dalglish Appeal fund donating some £2,000,000 which provided an Intra-operative MRI scanner. The other funds have provided their ‘Home from home’ facility which offers eight en-suite bedrooms for relatives who require accommodation after a patient has been admitted for urgent treatment and a ‘Robotic arm surgical aid’ to support and enhance the work of the hospital’s medical and surgical teams.

For the presentation Jim was joined by lodge colleagues Wally James, John Raby and Pam Bennett, the daughter of a deceased member of Harmony Lodge, with the presentation being made at the foot of the ‘Walton Willow’. This beautiful sculpture commemorates the gift of life made possible by organ donation. The tree features leaves of copper and stainless steel which are engraved with the names of those who have provided this precious opportunity. Each year during National Organ Donation Week the centre remembers these donors through a special Gift of Life Commemoration event.

Whilst it is hoped that neither you nor your family will ever need to make use of the facility, perhaps you may wish to read further about the work done and perhaps add your own support to their wonderful work. Click on the link to their website;- The Walton Centre

The remaining monies raised on the evening will be donated to support, Football for Children in Liverpool, The Tercentenary Appeal and Garston Masonic Hall.