Support your local Lions Club

Early this morning a plastic sack was pushed through our door with the request that we fill it with clothes to raise funds to fight breast cancer.  That's more or less what was written on the front of the wrapper, alongside the usual pink ribbon.  I have for many years been sceptical about these so-called charity collections and the plastic sacks are immediately thrown in the rubbish bin.  This morning, however, I happened to glance at the back of the wrapper and for some reason one word amongst the small print just jumped straight at me.  Lithuania.  Lithuania?  I was intrigued and looked again.  It transpired that the company distributing the sacks and collecting the clothing is the authorised agent of another company registered in Lithuania.  That company promises that at least £5,000 will be donated from the sale of clothing every month to fight breast cancer   -   in Lithuania.

I am sure that many people will see the wording on the front of the wrappers and will leave sacks of clothing out for collection on Thursday this week, not realising that they are (a) providing the collecting company with a good income as you can bet your boots that they take the lion's share of money raised, (b) indirectly donating to fight breast cancer in Lithuania, not - as they probably think - this country.  I was tempted to keep hold of that wrapper so that i could knock at doors where the filled sacks have been left out for collection just to point out to the unsuspecting donors what it is they are actually contributing to.  But I can't be bothered - which is a shame as it only needs good men to do nothing for evil to flourish.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm not suggesting this is evil, but it is certainly a blatant attempt to pull the wool over people's eyes.

So what should people do to make sure that their charitable donations go where they intend?  One way is to support your local Lions Club.  Lions Clubs across the world work on the same principles:  all the costs of running the clubs are paid by the members so any money donated by the public is used for charitable purposes.  Every penny, except for some things that can't be avoided like the actual cost of raising funds and the inevitable management costs like bank charges.  What is more, most clubs are like my own (Brighton) and spend the major part of their income locally.  Brighton Lions Club usually spends about 90% of money raised here in our local community.  This is a big plus as far as attracting local support is concerned.  And what money we do send out of our local community is nearly always distributed by other Lions Clubs.  For example, is we donate towards relief from a natural disaster, it is the local Lions Club that controls the spending.  That way we know the money reaches the people who need it and that nothing is deducted that should not be deducted.

The message is simple: support the Lions!

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After the funeral last Tuesday (was it really a week ago?) I walked the dog across the field known as 39 Acres and round the Roman Camp.  Which isn't.  It is officially know as Hollingbury Hill Fort but has for generations been known to locals as the Roman Camp.  The Romans, as far as I know, came nowhere near this camp or fort which was constructed about 3,500 year ago.  As we reach the eastern entrance to the camp and look back, this is the view.

So what have we here. We are looking across the golf course and the suburbs of Coldean and Moulsecoomb.  About halfway up the picture just left of centre is a building under construction.  Known as the keep, this will be a records office for East Sussex.  Beyond that is one campus of Brighton University and the new football stadium.  The white patches just past the field of rape are chalk pits just outside Lewes.