The Gravesend Lions Club website tells us:
"During each year our Club
organises and runs various fund raising events. Our main event is of course our
Boot Fair. Held on the first Sunday of each month from March through to December
each year. Since July 2007 they have raised over £15000, we also have a
Sponsored walk on the May Bank Holiday Monday, this raises about £
6000.
WHAT IS LIONISM?
No it is not
another religion, Lions International is a worldwide organisation of people who
are working for those less fortunate than ourselves.
Lions started in Chicago in 1917
founde by Melvin Jones who felt the need for a society of people to help thos in
need, not a society of "you scratch my back I'll scratch
yours".
Canadians stationed in England during the war turned to
Lions in Canada for relief aidd for us and in fact Queen Elizabeth (Queen
Mother) became involved in its distribution.It was not until after the second
world war that Lions started in this country. The first club in 1950 was known
then as the London Host Club.
Now there are over 1.3 million Lions
in 202 countries worldwide. It was 60 years before this "men only" organisation
admitted women, known then as Lionesses, but subsequently amendments to the
constitution opened clubs to male and female membership - now 20% of membership
is female. Although few and far between there are now Leo clubs for juveniles
encouraging them to join to help others.
As a practical aid, 100%
of funds raised are distributed to those in need by, what is now, The Worlds
largest service organisation.
The Lions Hospice, now part of The
Ellenor Lions Hospices Ltd, was founded in 1992 by Gravesed and other local
Lions Clubs, iis one of our proudest achievements and is still the only Lions
Hospice in the World."
The Ellenor
Lions website tells us:
"Welcome to Ellenor Lions Hospices.
We provide all encompassing hospice care and a seamless service for adults
living in Dartford, Gravesham, Swanley and surrounding villages; whilst our
children and young people’s service – ‘chYps’ – extends further afield into
Bexley and Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells.
The Ellenor Foundation was founded
in 1985 by Graham Perolls following the death of his mother and father – Ellen
and Norman. The Lions Hospice was built following the receipt in 1983 of an
anonymous donation of £200,000 and with additional funds raised by local Lions
clubs.
After many years of working
together the two organisations merged in November 2007.
Every week, EllenorLions provides
hospice care in the family home for 300 adults and 100 children; and each year
250 people receive in-hospice care.
This means that, in the course of a
year, we are in contact with more than 2500 people.
Our services cost over £6 million a
year but are free of charge to our patients. The vast majority of our money is
raised by the local community. We are very dependent on donations, legacies,
gifts and fundraising activities to enable us to provide the level of care we
do."