West Lancashire Mark Masonic Charity donates funds for two recliner chairs
Representatives visited St Catherine’s to see the difference for themselves
 
10th February 2016
 
Representatives from the West Lancashire Mark Masonic Charity visited St Catherine’s Hospice to see first-hand the difference two recliner chairs they have donated are making to patients there.
The charity donated an amazing £1559.90 which was used to buy two specialist riser recliner chairs for use on the in-patient unit. Among the visitors to St Catherine’s was Keith Alan Beardmore, Provincial Grand Master, Stuart Cowburn and Trevor Partington, together with members of New Temple and Lawrence Mark Lodges in Chorley.
They met with patient Eric Williams who is currently staying on the hospice in-patient unit, and regularly uses one of the recliner chairs to be able to sit comfortably out of bed.
Eric, from Astley Village who coincidentally is a Freemason belonging to a lodge in Bolton, said: “It lifts your spirits being able to get up and dressed and sit out of the bed during the day.
“You can interact with people better, enjoy more contact and get more involved in conversations compared to when you’re lying in bed. The support and assistance the chair gives me allows me to be able to do that.”
Keith said it had been wonderful to visit St Catherine’s and see the chairs in action.
 
He added: “The West Lancashire Mark Masonic Charity is an organisation which is here for all sections of the community.
“We know of the fantastic work of St Catherine’s and wanted to make a contribution towards the excellent services and facilities that they provide.
“It was wonderful to meet Eric and hear all about how the chair helps him, and to chat with staff about the impact these important pieces of equipment have.”
 
Stuart said: “We are overwhelmed by the generosity our members show week in week out, and delighted that we are able to use the funds they so readily give to help make a tangible difference to the lives of people like Eric.”
The team then went on to Rosemere to make a further Presentation see here
Article by Stuart Cowburn, Photographs Courtesy of Keith Beardmore