Despite some less than ideal conditions, six members of Wentworth Lodge No 737, led by the Worshipful Master, WBro Rob Mallett, have completed a canoeing marathon from Northampton to Peterborough raising funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital along the way.
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The Team enjoy a brief spell of sunshine |
The programme of canoeing, over 62 miles and encompassing 37 locks, started on 18 and ended on 20 April 2012. The team only managed only six hours sleep during the Challenge - 10 miles for each hour of sleep!
Their efforts, however, were well worth while and have raised in excess of £8,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Co-inciding with this Challenge, the team members visited as many Lodges and Masonic Centres as possible, including
| Frid 13 Apri |
St Crispins Lodge No 5627, Kettering |
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Mon 16 April |
Wentworth Lodge No 737, Wellingborough |
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Tues 17 April |
Peterborough & Counties Lodge No 2996, Peterborough |
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Wed 18 April |
Canoes depart from Northampton First Camp at Ditchford and visit Risdene Lodge No 6532, Rushden |
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Thurs 19 April |
Canoes depart from Ditchford Second Camp at Fotheringay and visit Hatton Lodge No 3041, Wellingborough |
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Fri 20 Apri |
Canoes depart from Fotheringhay and finish at Peterborough Bridge and Webb Ellis Lodge No 9740, Wellingborough |
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Mon 23 April |
Grey Friars Lodge No 4990, Northampton |
On the visit to Hatton Lodge No 3041, Bro Nick Skillett was Passed to the Second Degree.
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Celebrations at journey's end |
The challenge was devised after the Worshipful Master of the Wentworth Lodge experienced the high levels of care given by the hospital to his son, who is currently awaiting life changing neurosurgery to try to control his uncontrolled and life limiting epilepsy. Whilst the hospital is obviously a national, London based charity, it is accessed by children from all over the country, referred there when their local hospital cannot offer solutions or hope.
Great Ormond Street Hospital is a pioneering centre of medical research and care and in order to maintain the high standard of care that they provide, need to raise over £50 million pounds through charitable donations. This is in addition to the NHS funding that it already receives.