Local businesses donate Sidmouth Lions Duck Derby winnings to charity

Sidmouth Lions have already donated, from the proceeds of the Lions main yellow duck race, £1,300 to Children's Hospice South and £1,300 to Devon Freewheelers. The residual balance of the yellow duck race proceeds will be used for more of Sidmouth Lions local charity and community service activities.

However, the Lions Club's corporate duck race, with little red ducks, has also been a quacking success and raised £1,800 for charity!  So a very big thank-you from Sidmouth Lions Club to all the businesses that have supported this year's corporate duck race.  

Overall, Sidmouth Lions 2022 Duck Derby event has raised more than £4.400 for local charities!

The corporate duck race is sponsored by businesses in and around Sid Valley. To enter, local business organisations donate at least £5 per red duck and the 'owners' of the first three red ducks over the finishing line are each invited to choose which local humanitarian charity they wish their winnings to go to.

This year's winner, with red duck no. 303, was Branscombe Campsite & Airfield, which was represented at the cheque presentation ceremony by proprietors Tracey Warren and Chris Spencer. The £1,000 prize money is being shared, with £500 being donated to Devon Air Ambulance Trust (DAAT) and £500 to SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity that supports serving, personnel, veterans and their families.

The second corporate prize of £500 was won by red duck no. 188 which was sponsored by Willow Framing, whose premises are just off Sidmouth High Street. Proprietor David Smith and Brenda decided to donate their £500 to Sidmouth Hospice at Home.

The third corporate prize of £300 was won by red duck no. 102 sponsored by Sid Valley Country Hotel. The Hotel's family owners, represented by Sarah Hills-Ingyon and son/manager Edward at the cheque presentation, also gave their prize money to Sidmouth Hospice at Home.   

Consequently, the 2nd & 3rd prize presentations both took place on October 26 at Sidmouth Hospice at Home's new base, adjacent to Sidford's central car park, where the two cheques were gratefully received by the charity's Chief Executive, Al Cameron and Marketing & Income Generation Manager, Jane Foy.        

Ukraine prize draw

During the Duck Derby day, Sidmouth Lions also held a special prize draw in aid of the on-going refugee crisis and they would like to say a big thank-you to those local businesses that contributed such nice prizes. This prize draw raised just over £400 which brings the total being donated to date for the Ukraine Crisis by Sidmouth Lions Club, to over £4,000!

From the start of the crisis up to September, the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) has awarded grants totalling US$1.93 million, spread over 17 countries hosting Ukrainian refugees and this aid, raised by Lions around the world, has assisted over 216,000 refugees so far.

Ukraine prize draw winners

• Alpaca Trekking complimentary tickets for 2 – comprising 2 hours of trekking in the East Devon countryside (value £50): Barry, Sidmouth
• 2 complimentary tickets for Seaton Tramway (value up to £21.80): Mandy Newman, Sidmouth
• £20 voucher to be spent at the Clock Tower Café: Tony, Sidmouth
• A Glass Cake Turntable & Server: Ian Skinner, Sidmouth
• Quality Leather Shopping Bag RED: Sue Edwards, Sidmouth
• Quality Leather Shopping Bag BLUE: Robin Vicarage, Sidmouth
• A Cole & Mason Ceramic Condiment Set: Mr Milne, Visitor to Sidmouth
• A Table Lamp: D Shepherd, Sidmouth
• A 3 piece Bathroom Set: Ed Roberts, Sidmouth
• A Crystal Tea Light Holder: Gemma Garrett, Sidmouth
• A box of Neal's Yard Products: Jenny Rignall, Sidmouth
• A jar of Sanctuary Beauty Products: Keith Potter, Sidmouth
• The Simply Warm Aroma Microbottle: Andrew Skinner, Sidmouth
• Fragrance Boutique Floral Garden Candle: Wendy Macdonald, Sidmouth
• Golden Lilly Soap Dispenser: Jan Evans, Visitor to Sidmouth