£3,000 split between two Shropshire groups after cave rescue talk hailed a success
A cheque for £3,000, raised through a talk about the Thai cave rescue mission, has been presented to two organisations.
The rescue of a football team of 12 boys and their coach last year captured global attention.
Mike Clayton and Emma Porter, of the Midlands Cave Rescue Organisation, gave their account of the drama when they spoke to scores of people about the Tham Luang rescue in Shrewsbury last month.
The cheques, each for £1,500, were presented to Midlands Cave Rescue Organisation and the League of Friends of the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital at Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club’s Christmas party.
The club partnered with the League of Friends to stage the talk.
Shrewsbury Severn Rotary president Fred McDonogh said it was a first-time partnership with a charity to which the club wanted to give money.
Mr McDonogh told members and guests: “I would hate to think what our health service would be like without organisations such as the League of Friends."
Richard Lawn, chairman of the League of Friends executive committee, said the League of Friends has had a ‘good year,’ with the coffee shop it runs in the hospital taking over one million pounds.
Inspiring
The amount raised this year was more than expected and the group will be spending it on equipment for the hospital.
Mr Lawn said: “This is a thank you from all the people whose lives will be made better with the equipment we buy. Your money will save lives and make other lives better.”
Mr McDonogh described the cave rescue presentation as a ‘wonderfully inspiring story’ which was initially told to the club.
He realised it should be presented to a larger audience.
He said: “This resulted in an enjoyable and wonderful evening at Shrewsbury Colleges Group. Mike and Emma’s story was so inspiring.”
Receiving the money for Midlands Cave Rescue Organisation, Mike, of Hampton Loade, near Bridgnorth said: “As a purely voluntary organisation we rely on donations to keep the cave rescue team running and this amount is three years of normal fundraising for us so it is a massive help.”
The club’s Christmas party was its last event at the Lord Hill Hotel which closes shortly.
The president presented thank you gifts to two members of the hotel staff who had served the club over a number of years.
