FAMILY Life is better with friends
If we’ve learnt anything recently it’s to appreciate the friendships we hold dear to us.
And at South Yorkshire Oddfellows, the continued support that members have received has been invaluable. As one of the oldest and largest friendly societies, Oddfellows was started in 1810 as a support system to protect workers if/when they faced hardship following illness or injury. Over 210 years later, that ethos is still going strong.
Throughout the pandemic, branch
manager, Lesley Walton, has been regularly checking on members while in-person events have been on hold. But, during the bad weather at the start of the year, Lesley went the extra mile to help a 92-year-old member who didn’t know who else to turn to for help in times of need. Lesley walked across the town through thick snow to deliver some essential supplies.
Because that’s the benefit of being an Oddfellows member – there
will always be someone there to talk to and turn to through life’s ups and downs.
Along with Lesley’s and each other’s support, members also have access to a range of national services such as member-only helplines if they need help and advice regarding care needs, medical complaints or housing assessments. With restrictions starting to ease, their popular calendar of events will be restarting for the second half of 2021 with lots to look forward to, such as social gatherings, quizzes, and day trips. Oddfellows’ members really are a friendly bunch and always ready to welcome new faces to the team.
Look who’s 80 – and no sign of slowing down anytime soon!
Most people approaching their 80th birthday would be grateful of a meal out with family, a bottle of their favourite spirit, or even a new pair of slippers. But for Rotherham’s ultra-runner, Ray Matthews, his big birthday wishlist was never going to be sedentary.
When Ray turns 80 on
Wednesday 30th June, he won’t be planning on blowing any candles out on his cake. Instead, he’ll be blowing the cobwebs off his
“Following on from
Improve your life with friendship, care and support RUN BY MEMBERS, FOR MEMBERS
Join in with all our monthly
events such as coffee mornings, meals out and day trips
Also includes access to a range of support services such as:
Care and welfare helpline Help or advice for any concerns regarding your health, social care and housing, carers’ support, or later life planning
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Open to all ages • No political and religious affiliation
first 30 will also get a Compendium of Fun puzzle book Telephone 01709 838 673
The Oddfellows, 40 Westgate, Rotherham S60 1AS
his 75 consecutive marathons mission for his 75th
member from just £25
a year Become a
For an additional £10 a year, you can reclaim up to £30 against optical and dental treatments
Members also benefit from discounts with selected holiday companies, retailers and insurance firms
birthday, this year Ray has set his sights on getting 80 local schools to each clock up 80 miles
”
running shoes and wants South Yorkshire schoolchildren to join him in a celebratory challenge to raise money for Age UK Rotherham. Following on from his 75 consecutive marathons mission for his 75th birthday, this year Ray has set his sights on getting 80 local schools to each clock up 80 miles and raise a minimum £80. All monies raised will compensate Age UK Rotherham, of which Ray is an ambassador, for the donations they have lost over the last two years following the cancellation of the Rotherham 10K.
“Even if each of the 80 schools had 80 kids taking part and each child donated £1 to take part – that’s £6,400 we’d raise. But I’m hoping it will exceed that. Some schools have around 400 pupils so
imagine having over 30,000 children all running on that day for my birthday. Magic,” Ray says. Around 20 schools are already signed up as we go to press, so a quarter of the way to Ray’s target. His former primary school, St Bede’s Catholic Primary in Kimberworth, is already planning to do more to help Ray raise money. The headteacher, Mrs Wassell, is aiming to get all of her pupils running a mile a day throughout June. On the day, Ray hopes to make his way around as many of the schools involved as possible. But with interest from primaries in Doncaster, this time he’ll be more likely driving between the school gates than running.
Ray was a driving force behind the Run a Mile a Day initiative which started a few years ago to encourage Rotherham school pupils to undertake more exercise in a bid to improve mental wellbeing and reduce obesity levels in children. This birthday challenge will follow the same idea, with children who take part running just one mile during the school day, with no special footwear or sportwear required.
If you are a parent or a teacher at a school in South Yorkshire that would be interested in taking part to support Ray’s birthday wish, you can contact him via email on raymond226@
btinternet.com
aroundtownmagazine.co.uk 49
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