Blandford Stour Rotary Club is part of Rotary International, an organisation whose focus is to help people who need it, whether that is financially or practically.

AS an example of the work Blandford Stour Rotary do over the last few months our club has donated £1,000 to a school in Africa to buy books for the new curriculum enabling their students to carry on learning despite living in one of the most impoverished areas of the country. Education in these areas can be the key to escaping the crushing poverty they live in. Locally we have contributed £2,000 to a family who needed to build an extension for a young girl who had recently lost her father after also losing her mother. This enabled her to stay with family members. These are just a couple of examples of how the money we raise goes to help those who need it. We also support national charities, the local food bank and Blandford Museum ti name but a few. We work closely with local schools providing interview practice, and sending youngsters on leadership courses. As well as this we act as car park attendants, litter collectors and all manner of other useful things. So you can see the scope of our support is wide ranging.

To continue to do work like this we are always looking at ways of raising money.

That's where my challenge comes in! I've been a member of the club for 6 years now and have decided that I would personally like to help top up the charity account.

Rotary's motto is Service Before Self and this year's President has also introduced the slogan Be The Inspiration, both of which are great ideals to live by. In my own small way I hope that I will inspire others to consider how they can help people in need in their local communities, or in other parts of the world.

My personal challenge is to go swimming in the sea off the South Coast of England on New Years Day 2019 if I can get donations for the club of £250. Those who know me know that I'm not the fittest or most athletic person in the world so this challenge will involve me losing weight and getting match fit over the next 5 months, so is quite a commitment (remember service before self??).

There is the chance that I may do all of the training and not get the sponsorship of course, but I'm sure I know enough people who would love to see proof of me freezing my butt off on 1st January to put their hands in their pockets and stump up a few quid for this brilliant charity.

And of course if any of you would like to join me and raise money for your own great cause just let me know! I can't be the only mad fool out there daft enough to commit to this.

So now it's over to you! If you feel you can help with a financial donation that would be amazing. If you'd like to find out more about Rotary let me know. I'll be happy to give you all of the info you need.

Thanks for reading!

Sam
xxx