CAMDEN Haven Lantern Club are working harder than ever to raise their first record amount for the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC) in honour of the charity’s 150th anniversary this year.
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The club raises tens of thousands every year to help improve the lives of deaf and blind children and 2010 will be no different with plans beginning in earnest for RIDBC’s sesquicentennial.
The 42 hard working members spent the last 12 months raising more than $12,536 for Australia’s oldest charity for families affected by deafness or blindness.
Since the Lantern Club was established in 1986, members have raised more than $303,907 through toy and book fairs, fashion parades, luncheons, raffles, markets and donations.
“It’s a lot of hard work, a lot of fun and a lot of love for the children,” President Bill Newman said.
RIDBC provides high quality education programs to 900 children and their families, Australia wide, including children in the Camden Haven area.
At the Central Council meeting on Tuesday, Chief executive John Berryman told the Club about a young blind girl called Kiara who lost her sight a few weeks of being born. He then recounted the success of a man called Henry who was about to finish his first university degree and recently took part in the Australian rowing championships, after a successful start to life at RIDBC.
“For Kiara, that’s the life she can look forward to,’’ he said. “What you’ve been working for over the past 12 months and the past 24 years is to help children like Kiara . . . like Henry . . . knock down the barriers of deaf and blindness and live a normal life.’’
RIDBC relies heavily on community funds - such as those raised by the Camden Haven Lantern Club - to continue making a difference to the lives of deaf children and blind children.
Camden Haven Lantern Club is always welcoming new members.
To volunteer or make a donation, call 4369 8855.
