A GROUP of special needs and disadvantaged children and their carers assembled at the SouthAirport bound for England last Friday.
They were heading for the Haven Holiday Centre in Burnham on Sea, Somerset, with a week of activities and fun ahead of them, courtesy of Tenerife Sur Lions Club’s annual “Dream Holidays” project.
This week, the kids visited the local RNLI lifeboat and hovercraft stations and also enjoyed trips to Longleat Safari and AdventurePark, plus the CheddarGorgeCaves.
The Secret World Wildlife Rescue centre, at Highbridge, Somerset, where they had a hands-on encounter with some of the many wild animals being cared for there, also enthralled them.
Their busy, action-filled week included a ride on the West Somerset steam train, together with shopping trips, picnics, a fun fair and a special party, laid on just for them.
Huge thanks go to all the Lions Dream-Makers who, through their support, make it all possible for the kids.
And a special thank-you goes to the staff at Rumours Bar in Los Cristianos, who raised a staggering 1,560 euros through their various fund-raising initiatives.
A week earlier, at Tenerife Sur Lions’ annual President’s Night, Norman Goodall MBE agreed to maintain his position at the head of the organisation.
The Gala Dinner took place at HotelParadisePark, Los Cristianos, and Guest of Honour was Canaries’ British Vice Consul Helen Keating, and her husband, Antonio.
Norman, accompanied by his wife, Edna, made Presidential Apppreciation awards to various club members and, in his address, he referred to the Holiday scheme, saying:
“We have majored on our “Dream Holidays” and will continue to do so.”
He added: “Our charitable work has been called on in so many ways, and we are working closely with the three local Town Hall Social Services departments, who refer people in need to us for assistance in improving their daily lives.
“When hard times arrive, it is often the younger members of the community who forego their aspirations and dreams.
“With this in mind, we are looking at ways of creating a Tenerife Sur Lions Scholarship to enable a particularly bright student to undertake a university degree course, who, without financial support, could not realise his/her potential or dream.”