Cookstown & Magherafelt Lions Club

Cookstown & Magherafelt Lions Club welcomes Kieran Fields as new Club President for 2012-13

Cookstown & Magherafelt Lions annual Golf Day raises money for Kilronan School in Magherafelt

Cheque presentation to Ulster Cancer Foundation

Lion President Emma McCann pictured presenting the cheque for £700 to Paul O'Gara from the Ulster Cancer Foundation. Paul represented the Ulster Cancer Foundation at the clubs 'All male Fashion Show' were he was able to answer questions in relation to mens health and in particular testiclar cancer.

News Update: Lions Under 15 Football Match

Due to the excessive rain over the weekend, the pitch has been declared unplayable for the next few days. As a result, this match has been rescheduled until Wednesday 8th February.

Twinning with Terranora Lakes Australia

During his visits to Australia in 2011 our Club Secretary, Nigel Paxton made contact with a local Lions Club, Terranora Lakes. The Club is based in Tweed Heads South, and covers the towns of Tweed Heads, Banora Point and Terranora, which are close to the coast and at the top end of the scenic Northern Rivers area of New South Wales, right next to the border with Queensland. The club is slightly smaller than ours but is very active in their community with regular fund raising and service activities.

Nigel went to several club meetings and from that contact and friendship both clubs built up a desire to Twin. In early November 2011 Lion President Peter Maroney of Terranora Lakes Lions Club and our Club President Emma McCann signed the International Club Twinning Recognition Application. This was confirmed by International Headquarters in Oak Brook on 16^th November. An exchange of club banners and various pieces of club information has been made and the 2 clubs intend to keep close links going forward into the future.

The letter from Oak Brook congratulating our Club President Emma, stated that this partnership with the Terranora Lakes Lions Club is a wonderful opportunity to fulfil the third purpose of Lions Clubs International –

“To create and foster a spirit of understanding among the peoples of the world”

District Governor Sean Sandford visits Cookstown & Magherafelt Lions Club

Members of the Cookstown & Magherafelt Lions Club were on hand to offer a warm welcome to District Governor Sean Sandford and his wife during his visit to the Club.

District Governor Sean Sandford visits Cookstown & Magherafelt Lions Club

Sean goes on to say, "It was great to visit such an active club and the enthusiasm was infectious and you could feel how everyone in the club were being motivated to become involved in activities and projects."

Lions Internations Peace Poster Competition

Organised by the local Cookstown and Magherafelt Lions Club is the annual International Peace Poster Competition with the theme 'Children Know Peace'.

The intention of this competition is to encourage young girls and boys aged between eleven and thirteen years to express their creativity of what it means to them to share their own unique visions with the world.

Four local schools took part in the competition with the winning poster in each school moving on to the next stage of the competition. The judges in all cases commented on the quality of the art work and indeed the students interpretation of the theme, 'Children know Peace'.

Lions Clubs President Emma McCann wished to express her thanks to all the students who took part in the competition, also conveying her thanks to the four school for taking part in the competition.

School Winners were:

Cookstown and Magherafelt Lions Club Peace Poster Winners from Sperrin Integrated College Magherafelt

Cookstown and Magherafelt Lions Club Peace Poster Competition Winners from St Pius X High School.

Cookstown and Magherafelt Peace Poster Winners from rainey Endowed School Magherafelt

Pre Christmas Food Appeal 2011

The annual pre Christmas food collection for distribution to deserving individuals and families exceeded all expectations, with cash donations and the estimated value of food received at almost £2,500. Special thanks is extended to the management of JC Stewarts supermarket, Meadowlane Shopping Centre and Dunnes Stores all in Magherafelt for allowing this annual collection to take place. All the Lions Club Members would like to thank the general public for their generosity and indeed their courtesy during the collection.
Cookstown and Magherafelt Lions Club Food Collection at Dunnes Stores

Lions Charity Bag Pack at Tesco's

It's all about the men, or is it?

Cookstown and Magherafelt Lions Club recently held an all-male fashion show to raise awareness for the work of Lions and to promote the pressing need for men to be attentive to their health, in particular the early detection of Testicular Cancer – the most common cancer in men aged 15-45. The club’s first female President, Emma McCann, came up with the idea and pulled the event together using her many contacts and friends.

Lion President Emma said, “My inspiration for this unique event came about because I wanted to help dispel the perceived notion of many that the Lions Club is an almost entirely male organisation. Then a friend was diagnosed with testicular cancer and I felt the fashion show provided a perfect platform to present clear and strong messages on both fronts.” Firstly, Emma explained, “The extremely wide choice of models of varying ages, sizes, shapes and professions helped to highlight the stark fact that testicular cancer was not a discriminatory disease, but one that can affect all,” and secondly, “the presence of a female Lion President allowed the audience to see that the club was very much open to lady members.”

The sell-out event at the Glenavon Hotel in Cookstown featured well-known businessmen, council members and community figures who modelled clothes from local outlets. The evening also featured the fabulous Whistle Bait Babies burlesque troupe, whilst the compere for the night was the inimitable Lady Portia Di Monte. A little something for everyone!

With a complimentary drinks reception, generously filled goodie bags, a free draw and gorgeous eye candy to look at, it certainly was a night to remember, but the more serious reason of the evening was not forgotten: Dr Stewart Knox and The Ulster Cancer Foundation encouraged men to check themselves regularly and reminded the ladies they have a vital role to play in men’s health too by encouraging them to keep an eye on things.

Emma commented, “As President of the Cookstown and Magherafelt Lions Club, I would like to sincerely thank everyone who helped on the night, especially our wonderful models. The event could not have happened without the assistance and generosity of the local business community. The Lions Club works tirelessly to promote good causes both locally and internationally. At the heart of our work is the motto ‘We serve’ and we are dedicated to raising awareness and money to help those who are less fortunate than ourselves.”

In retrospect, Emma said, “the main aim of my Presidential year was to encourage new membership. I now know this fun- filled event has achieved this. Several individuals who were there that night have already expressed an interest in coming to future meetings.”

A donation has been made to the Ulster Cancer Foundation.