Lions’ thanks (From Gazette & Herald)

Lions’ thanks

3:32pm Friday 3rd February 2012 in Letters

I WOULD like to convey the Malton & Norton Lions’ thanks to the residents of Malton, Norton and surrounding villages for their support and generosity towards our 2011 Lions Sleigh.

We successfully completed all 13 nights including the new route of Sherriff Hutton in what is the 18th year of the sleigh.

Apologies if we missed you but we have had to alter some routes from our traditional routes due to new housing estates springing up and also adding Saturday nights instead of Fridays.

We collected more than £8,500 which is a record result. We were also bowled over by the response from local businesses and individuals in the area who were keen to support our cause by sponsoring both the sleigh for every night and also the reindeer.

They added more than £3,000 to give us a grand total of nearly £12,000 which will be used to support mainly local causes over the next 12 months. It is a huge task to help Santa for 13 nights. We need a driver for the sleigh, two stewards and at least eight collectors to volunteer every night for more than four hours so a big thanks to all who helped us. If anyone would like to add their financial support and missed Santa they can donate to Malton & Norton Lions online through Virgin Money Giving and should anyone feel they would like to join in next year, collecting with Santa, we are always looking for willing volunteers with this mammoth task.

ELF HARRY, (Mark Harrison Malton, Norton & District Lions sleigh committee chairman)