Brethren form Carnarvon Lodge No 2376 proudly presented a cheque for £2,200 to Holly’s Hearts, a remarkable charity that supports children with a cancer diagnosis and their families. During his year in office as WM, Chris Upton OBE made it his mission to select a charity that would have a lasting and meaningful impact. Holly’s Hearts was chosen because of the vital role it plays in providing not only practical support, but also much-needed joy to children living with a cancer diagnosis.
Chris, supported by lodge members, family, and friends, organised a number of fundraising activities throughout his year. The highlight was a hugely successful charity ball arranged by Chris and his wife Lucy, which drew together members of the local community in support of this inspiring cause. Their combined efforts, together with other lodge initiatives, raised the impressive sum of £2,200.
This cheque was presented to Holly’s Hearts by Chris Upton OBE and Adam Dennett, the charity steward of Carnarvon Lodge. They met with Jenny Prince, one of the charity’s founders and trustees, to learn more about the difference their donation would make. Jenny explained that in this year alone, Holly’s Hearts has already supported 60 children with gifts and wishes, including days out, respite breaks for the families at their newly purchased caravan and the provision of gifts such as Lego and iPads to keep children occupied whilst staying in hospital for long periods of time.
The charity ensures that children and families who often face long hospital stays, invasive procedures and ongoing cancer treatment are given opportunities to enjoy positive experiences, create memories together and feel supported by a wider community. Holly’s Hearts relies heavily on donations to fund this work, and a contribution of £2,200 represents a significant sum that will directly fund multiple gifts and wishes for the many families in need.
Reflecting on his choice of charity, Chris Upton OBE said: “Having attended Holly’s Hearts Charity Ball a couple of years ago, I listened intently to Mark and Jenny’s very sad story of losing their beautiful daughter Holly to a very rare condition called Bloom Syndrome. Through their heartbreak, they work tirelessly to support young people and their families through incredibly difficult time. Both Lucy and I wanted to support this inspiring charity in their work, something the brethren and families of Carnarvon Lodge really got behind and we are grateful for their backing and, of course, supporting Holly’s Hearts to help to continue their vital work.”
Jenny Prince expressed her gratitude to the members of Carnarvon Lodge and highlighted the impact such generosity has saying: “We are truly grateful for the generosity of the Carnarvon Lodge community. The donation will help so many oncology families to make memories together on special days out and also allow families to have much needed respite breaks to spend quality time together. With more and more gift requests coming in the money raised by Carnarvon Lodge will go an extremely long way to helping those children and their families through the most difficult times.”
Adam Dennett, charity steward of Carnarvon Lodge, added: “This is why we do it. Charity has always been at the heart of Carnarvon Lodge, as it is within Freemasonry more broadly. We have always been passionately focused on giving back, and supporting Holly’s Hearts is a powerful way to live out those values. Every donation is about making a real and lasting difference to families when they need it most.”
This donation stands as a testament to the generosity and commitment of Carnarvon Lodge brethren in supporting good causes. It also reflects the Freemasons wider ethos of charity, community spirit and making a positive difference in people’s lives. If you want to know more, please follow the link to Holly’s Heart website https://hollyshearts.co.uk/