.....more of Our Year So Far
Cancer Research - 10k Race.
The weather on Sunday the 6th of September turned out to be quite a good for both male and female runners in the first ever 10k run in Delamere Forest organized by Cancer Research.
Bearing in mind that our Club has, for two years on the trot now (pun intended), helped Cancer Research with their “Race For Life” in Delamere Forest, we were only too pleased to join in and help them with this new event.
It was mid August when Fred Bishop received a request from their Regional Fundraising Manager, Elizabeth Oakes, asking for volunteers to help with the marshalling of the event. As you might well expect, no sooner had we been asked than it was sorted, with 10 Club members along with two Golden Retrievers, Barney and his sister Amy, all straining at the leash (yes, another pun) wanting to be involved with marshalling the event, ensuring that all the competitors navigate the course safely and successfully as well as having lot’s of fun prior to, and following the race.
We believe that some 2000 runners took part in this events and Cancer Research advised that they expect to raise some £63,000 as a result of the generous sponsorship given to the runners.
Congratulations to all who were involved in this event including our very own Frank Ball, pictured still looking fresh at the half way stage.
Although we do not have details, other 10k races have been organized to take place at various locations throughout the UK, and we hope that they too will be as successful as the one we helped with. Click here for news of runs in 2010.
As with all the previous occasions we can assure the organisers that if Delamere Forest is chosen by Cancer Research for future events, our Club will be there to lend our help and support to this wonderful Charity and the work I does.
Frodsham Community Association’s Downhill Run.
On a very
hot and sunny Saturday the 12th of September, 15
of our Club
members were pleased to respond to the request for the provision of
helpers from the organizers of the Frodsham Community
Association’s Downhill Run.
The first part of our Club’s duties were to set up several Gazebo’s along with providing the cordoned off run-in to the finish of the Downhill Run, and as can be seen, a fine bunch of good looking helpers made short work of the task, with an abundance of humorous banter accompanying the work!
We also set up and got working a PA System so Sam Williams could keep all present fully informed with all manner of un-important “Public Information Announcements” prior to the race itself, with of course the highlight being a running commentary (pun intended) involving the names, and other spurious information, of those completing the course.
As far as the run itself was concerned, we were also pleased to join the ranks of the many volunteers who agreed to help with the actual marshalling of the Downhill Race itself with a select team at the finishing line, ensuring the run-in was kept clear and no accidents occurred.
However, for
the first time at this event, we also provided our world famous
“Bacon & Burger Butty Bar”, with Vince
Akers insisting
that only the best Chefs from within the ranks of our Club be allowed
to join the “Blue Glove Brigade” and wield a
spatula, knife
or other associated culinary equipment, although he was perfectly happy
for anyone to help clear away at the end of the day!
As expected, the event was a huge success, with not only keen runners being involved, but also Fun Runners along with Mums, Dads and Children running as a family.
We must also mention that Frank Ball, one of our most energetic Club members, successfully completed the run slightly in front of his wife Val, who for the best part of the race had given him a piggy-back down the hill as his knees and bunions were giving him some stick!
In conclusion, our Club members look forward to helping with next year's Downhill Run, as such Community Events are seen as a most important part of the work done by our Club.
Our Recent Visit to the Czech Republic.
On Monday the 28th of September, Maggie and Malcolm Davies accompanied Daniela Cervenka on a visit to the Czech Republic.
At Praha airport, Daniela’s lovely cousin, Vladĕna Jirkalová, picked everyone up in her car and it wasn’t long before everyone was at a hotel in the Malá Strana district of Praha where Maggie and Malcolm stayed.
Daniela however went on to where Vladĕna lives and following a very late night, they eventually went to Hořice the following day, where Daniela will stay for several weeks.
Hi, Vĕra and Jenda Vítec. Please take good care of Daniela whilst she is in Hořice.
Following sight
seeing all day Tuesday and Wednesday morning, Maggie and Malcolm went
by train to Hradec Králové where that evening
they were
invited to dinner at the Hotel Pod Vĕží with President
Vladimír Kasal, his wife Jana and four other members of the
Rotary Club of Hradec Králové and wives. Malcolm
is seen
presenting President Vladimír with our club’s Year
Book
and Augustin Čermák with a bright red Sergeant-at-Arms
Tabard,
acquired by Malcolm at the recent RI Convention in Birmingham.
The following morning, Daniela joined Maggie and Malcolm to go to the Střední, Základní a Mateřská škola that caters for children and students with hearing, speech, sight and language defects as well as development disorders. It was there that the official handover ceremony of electronic, photographic and IT equipment took place. This equipment was funded via a joint venture between our two clubs, and is specifically linked to the memory of the late Tony Cervenka, a past President of our Rotary Club.
The ceremony involved the signing and witnessing of appropriate legal documents by representatives of our two Rotary Clubs and Eva Stolínová, the Deputy Headmistress of the school.
It is sad to report that once again Malcolm had to borrow a pair of glasses in order for him to see properly, and therefore correctly sign the documents.
No change there then Malcolm.
Following this short ceremony, all present were then given a demonstration of the equipment and systems that are now used by Senior Lecturers Jiří Procházka (in the red shirt), Radek Červinka (in the beige sweater), with instantaneous signing translation by the delightful Soňa Procházková. This took place in the studio used by the school for their International Signing Development Project and some of the equipment donated can be seen.
Thursday afternoon involved a typical Czech lunch taken at Staročeská Hospoda, a quaint restaurant that was full of character, which was followed by a visit to the nearby Kunĕtická Hora, a medieval castle providing wonderful vistas of the surrounding countryside. On our way back to their cars, they ate freshly gathered walnuts that were the size of plums, which were soooo soooo nice.
After a very short rest and some liquid refreshments taken in their hotel, Daniela, Maggie and Malcolm were honoured to attend, and be the guests of our twin Rotary Club at their fundraising Gala Evening, “Tmavomodrý večer”.
Our good friend David Kafka acted as MC for the evening, and he introduced the Filharmonie Hradec Králové, with soloists Zuzana Pullmannová (flute), Petra Musilová (soprano), Miroslav Orság (Bass baritone), Jan Adamek (Tuba) and Zuzana Ambrošová (piano).
Joining the orchestra for the second part of the evening was the Český chlapecký sbor Boni pueri, (a boy’s choir) with our good friend Pavel Horák, their Musical Director, who is also a member of our Twin Club.
The performances themselves were conducted by Andreas Sebastian Weiser, a member of the Rotary Club of Praha Starė Mĕsto, who directed the orchestra, soloists and choir with consummate and effortless ease…… Well done that man.
It must be said that only two words are really needed to sum up this “Ripper” of an evening, these being :-
What A Corker you Guys, it was Bob-On!
It was pleasing to note that some 185,000CzK were raised by this Gala Evening, which was immediately donated to a local School for the Blind, who’s representatives were pleased to join the musical performers on stage for the presentations.
As you might expect, after the concert about 25 of us adjourned to the nearby Gist Restaurant where, once again typical Czech food, wine and beer was enjoyed by all until quite late into the night.
All too quickly however, Friday arrived and it was time for Daniela, Maggie and Malcolm to return to their respective homes and it was lovely that President Vladimír along with Augustin and Jára Kovařik came to see us off.
Once again the level of hospitality and friendship shown to us by the members and wives of our twin Club was extraordinary, demonstrating yet again the affection they feel towards us, and the true value of friendship born out of Rotarian links.
In honour of these links Daniela, Maggie and Malcolm, on several occasions, raised a glass to our “Mate” Tony Cervenka without whom there would be no link with the Rotary Club of Hradec Králové and such wonderful friends, acquaintances, events and memories.
