Rotary’s funding promise

A ROTARY club has pledged its support to Dr Kershaw’s Hospice for the next five years.

The Rotary Club of Crompton and Royton will organise a series of fund raising events to provide additional resources.

Club president Stewart Chadwick said: “We have supported Dr Kershaw’s for many years but felt we should put it on a more formal footing, with an initial five-year commitment.

“We are at the moment discussing with them our first challenge but it is likely to be furnishing a family room, to enable relatives to stay overnight when the circumstances require it.

“Following the success of last year’s Opera Night, we have arranged another concert, ‘Friday night is our music night’, and again the whole of the proceeds will be for Dr Kershaw’s.”

This year, the concert will feature Nadine Livingston, John Pearce and Tim Hawkins from the Royal Northern College of Music.

The Royton hospice faces a constant battle to meet running costs, needing to raise £1.75 million a year, around £4,700 a day.

It has long been supported by caring Oldhamers and is grateful for new ways of providing cash.

Delighted appeals manager Brian Hurst said: “It’s absolutely fantastic that the Rotary has pledged to back us for the next five years. If we could get more support like that we could prepare and build for the future.

“We are really grateful for its support.”

The concert will be held on Friday, February 6, at 7.30pm at St Anne’s Church, Royton. Tickets, including a glass of wine and canapés, are £15 each from David and Shirley Heather on 01706 843154.