Easter Egg Run 2023

                                        EASTER EGG RUN 2023  

Cumbria WSMBA Easter egg run started on Monday 27th March with a run out to the James Rennie school where nearly 200 eggs and a cheque was donated to their inclusive playground fund, the chapter treasurer Denis Noble accompanied by his lovely wife Sylvia, the VP Eric Baty and myself Mike Turner (President).

A stunning day out to support an amazing school who do so much for the exceptional children that can't attend a more standard school. 

But Sunday was the big run, starting at 9am in Cockermouth, before heading over to the Carlisle area to pick up the eggs and remaining WS members.

13 WS, 1 brother from a local lodge, Provincial support from our APGM Ian St.John Darcy & PCO Neil Dixon, wives and partners all gathered in Dalston for the big ride. 

Our first stop was Cumberland Infirmary where we donated 3 huge boxes of more eggs, toys, Easter bunnies and a cheque for £425 to help support the children's ward to buy toys and equipment that the children need when they are being looked after. There was also a box of soft Easter toys donated to the maternity ward, for babies born during Easter week, that the parents could take home as a special momento. 

The ward staff brought the parents and children down to meet us all, some sitting on the bikes, enjoying the sunshine and the laughter. 

The next stop was the Jigsaw Hospice, where the children came out in their wheelchairs along with the staff to view the bikes. 

Things really got going here when one of our WS took one of the nurses for a little tour around the site and car park on his bike, the smiles and laughter was infectious, a smaller donation of eggs was given, but the largest donation was for thermal fleece blankets which all the children will get; to keep them warm and cosy as they sit in the gardens and play areas. 

The staff were overjoyed with the gifts and were overwhelmed when another cheque was presented, allowing them to buy sensory toys and equipment to help those incredibly special children have an amazing time whilst they were there. 

The last and longest leg of the day was then started, riding across Cumbria to the West Cumbria Infirmary in Whitehaven, where yet another 3 large boxes of eggs were presented to the Children's ward along with another cheque. Again, a box of Easter soft toys was given to the maternity ward for babies that would be born during Easter week to be given to their families as a momento of their birth. We wanted to include all children, and that included babies as well.

The staff and families again came down to view the bikes and meet everyone, and once again, it was a pleasure to see the joy on the childrens faces. 

I suspect for all that took part in the ride today, the memories created by just giving our time to help others, the smiles and laughter, the fun that was had and the brotherly companionship that the WS engenders.

As a chapter we cannot thank enough the whole province of Cumbria, the lodges, chapters and side orders for their amazing donations, for helping us raise the monies, the eggs and the gifts that have helped so many young children and put a smile on many an old man's face and heart. 

To all the brethren in the WS who attended today, I thank you, to all the support from within the province, we thank you, to all the wives and partners for being there with us, we thank you. 

I have been humbled throughout all of this, and I could not have done any of this without the support of my wife Helen,  my VP Eric Baty and the PCO Neil Dixon and everyone of the chapters members and all the brethren in the province of Cumbria.