Lions support Bath Cancer Unit Support Group at annual sporting dinner

FROME Lions recently held their annual charity sporting dinner at Elmhay Park, Orchardleigh on 1st February in aid of the Bath Cancer Unit Support Group.

The guest speaker was the former three-time Olympic medallist and world record holding javelin thrower, Steve Backley, OBE. At the time of going to press, the final proceeds from the event are still being finalised but it is expected that the Lions will be able to donate at least £10,000 to the chosen charity, which will be matched by the Richard Oatley foundations which raises it to £20,000.

The chair of the Bath Cancer Unit Support Group, Mike Taylor, was in attendance and informed the guests about the group and said they were formed in 1985 to purchase equipment to keep cancer treatments in the Bath RUH as there were plans at that time to move all treatments to Bristol.

Since then, they have raised almost £6million to fund various purchases of equipment including a PET CT scanner for £1.2 million in 2016. He said that they are planning that the funds raised from the evening along with the match funding from the Richard Oatley Foundation would be used as part of the funding to purchase one of three omniboards which cost £38,000 each. They ensure that the patient is securely immobilised during radiotherapy.

Also in attendance was Kevin Butcher, CEO of the Richard Oatley Foundation who had generously agreed to match fund the proceeds raised by the Lions.

Following an auction of donated items conducted by Martyn Hemmett, the 180 guests sat down to a meal and afterwards to hear an engaging talk from the guest speaker in which he outlined his time as an Olympic athlete, winning a bronze medal at the 1992 Barcelona games and silver medals at the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney games. He also broke the world record on two occasions in 1991 and 1992.

The Lions have thanked Connor Construction (South-West) Ltd for overall sponsorship of the event; Christopher Vincent for donating the venue for the night; Andrew Lee for compering proceedings and Martyn Hemmett for conducting the auction and finally all the companies and individuals who generously supplied items for the auction and raffle prizes.