Each Year the INFC charity Committee hold a major Christmas show and sale ,the profit from which goes to local nominated charities ,nominations coming usually from the Committee or by way of Fanciers requests to the Committee and this year was no exception with the show (held in the Lisburn Leisure Centre in early December ) raising a further £12,500 for 14 local charities and these cheques were presented recently at an evening held in the Newtownbreda clubrooms and I was delighted to receive an invitation to attend as one charity to benefit was one close to my heart “The Friends of the Cancer centre at the Belfast city Hospital” .
The committee have over the years now presented several hundred thousands of pounds to many and varied charities and the evening is always very inspiring and humbling with each charity representative in addition to receiving their cheque giving a short talk by way of an insight into how the finance will help their particular needs .
The evening was introduced by the Charity Committee Secretary Sam Briggs who puts a tremendous amount of work into organising this each year and as he was quick to point out he could not do it without the support of the Hard working Committee members .
After the presentations the guests enjoyed a welcome supper prepared by the ladies of the Committee to whom a big thank you is extended and this gave an opportunity to speak to some of the guests and learn a little more first hand of the various charities which they represented . It was once again a very enjoyable evening . The Beneficiaries this year , and I have included photos of the various representatives along with Committee Secretary Sam Briggs , were
The Friends of the Cancer Centre Belfast City Hospital £ 2000,
The Open Ministries £ 500
Southern Hospice £ 1000-00
Almost Home Animal Rescue £ 500-00
Lisburn Food Bank £ 500-00
Bridge Orphans Project £ 500-00
Bridge Association £ 500-00
Children’s Hospice £ 1500-00
Brain Tumour Unit £ 500-00
Ashes to Gold £ 1000-00
Wallace Day Centre Lisburn £ 500-00
Air Ambulance £ 1000-00
Larne Adult Centre £ 500-00
Community Rescue Service £ 1000-00
Chest, Heart & Stroke £ 1000-00
*********************************
Clifford Browne
