My latest walking challenge is in support of the Schoolreaders project. I aim to walk 150 miles between the 1st May and the 19th June 2023.

1 in 4 children leave primary school unable to read well? This already troubling statistic worsens when related to disadvantaged children. The inability to read when starting secondary school can lead to lifelong consequences, such as fewer options for further education, less qualifications, a higher chance of unemployment, poorer physical and mental health, substandard housing and lower life expectancy.

Schoolreaders places volunteers in local primary schools providing one-to-one weekly reading support, so every child has the chance to catch up on vital reading skills.

On our recent visit to Worcester Cathedral we passed several elephants that are part of a current art trail.

Each sculpture has been sponsored by a business and individually designed by an artist – either well-known or just starting out, from the Worcestershire area or further afield. They marched into the city on Tuesday, 13th July and will leave again from 5pm on Sunday, 5th September 2021. After this, there will be the chance to say a final ‘goodbye’ at a Farewell Event, before each elephant is auctioned to raise funds for St Richard’s Hospice.

The sculptures are delightful, although due to their popularity proved difficult to photograph.

At the beginning of December many Rotary clubs throughout the United Kingdom launch their annual ‘Tree of Light’.  The concept of the ‘Tree of Light’ was introduced into Shropshire from South Africa in the 1990s by a county Rotarian. For many years, since its inception, my father was a member of the small committee of Rotarians that run the Telford ‘Tree of Light’; these Rotarians are from the four Rotary clubs of Telford.

The name and symbolism of the ‘Tree of Light’ reminds us that there can be light and hope even in bleak circumstances.  The main aim of the ‘Tree of Light’ is to serve the public and the community which is at the heart of the Rotary organisation whose motto is ‘service above self”.

People are invited to sponsor a light on the tree in memory of a loved one (or a cause dear to them) and the monies raised are divided between local charities. The commemoration of a loved one around the tree provides a sense of well being to those who take part.

The names of the nominees are displayed around the base of the tree, on the ‘Tree of Light’s web page and also published in the local newspaper.  There is always one main charity to which half of the monies raised is donated; the other half is split equally between the Rotary clubs that administer ‘The Tree of Light’, for them to donate to a local charity of their choice.  This year the charities are the Severn Hospice, Neo-Natal Unit Princess Royal Hospital, Wellington Cottage Care, Georgia Williams Trust and Telford Mind.

My father spent many a long hour in the run up to Christmas attending committee meetings or sitting upstairs at home processing names and lists for publication under the tree and in the local newspaper.  His involvement included receiving phone calls from some of the sponsors who had queries   about their request.  He loved the premise and the concept of the ‘Tree of Light’ and that it provided a treasured service to people at this particular time of year.

• This is an updated version of a previous post.

The bear then proceeded past the window and in through the main entrance to our building.  A few minutes later he walked into the office accompanied by a human carrying a bucket to collect money for the charity ‘Help for Heroes’.  It was only after the arrival of the bear that we received an email advising us to expect his presence in the building.

It is that time of year again for the Rotary Clubs annual ‘Tree of Light‘, where people are invited to sponsor a light on the tree in memory of a loved one, or a cause that is dear to them. The monies that are raised are given to various charities, the choices are different each year.  Telford Hospice, Telford and Wrekin Young carers, Headway Shropshire and Alzheimer’s Society are the 2013 choices for my local Rotary clubs.

The name and symbolism of the ‘Tree of Light’ reminds us that there can be light and hope even in bleak circumstances.  The main aim of the ‘Tree of Light’ is to serve the public and the community which is at the heart of the Rotary organisation whose motto is ‘service above self”.

This post is in memory of my father, you can find a more detailed post about the ‘Tree of Light’ and why it means so much to me here.

We are now on the count down to Christmas and I am wondering where the year has gone…

I am also reminded of the Rotary Clubs annual ‘Tree of Light“, where people are invited to sponsor a light on the tree in memory of a loved one, or a cause that is dear to them.  The monies that are raised are given to various charities, the choices are different each year.

The name and symbolism of the ‘Tree of Light’ reminds us that there can be light and hope even in bleak circumstances.  The main aim of the ‘Tree of Light’ is to serve the public and the community which is at the heart of the Rotary organisation whose motto is ‘service above self”.

You can find a more detailed post about the ‘Tree of Light’ and why it means so much to me here.

I invite you to join me at Vision and Verb, where I talk about the ‘Tree of Light‘ giving hope and purpose at Christmas time to those who are feeling the loss of a loved one.