Community Awards: Services to Charity
Jun 17 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner
The retired breast cancer specialist and his wife travelled to the island of Ukerewe on Tanzania’s Lake Victoria to find ways of reducing child mortality rates in the region.
They were left shocked and heartbroken by the squalid conditions of one hospital’s labour ward, where they found ripped mattresses, dirty floors and a lack of medical supplies.
Yorkshire Rotary leader John and his wife Chris, a former churchwarden at St Hilda’s Church in Fixby, were on a mission as part of the Rotary International President’s challenge for the year to reduce unnecessary child deaths.
They set-up a three-year action plan at the hospital to renovate the operating theatre and maternity ward.
The couple, who have two children, have already raised more than £7,000 for the cause and are returning there in September.
Just days after returning from 18 days in Tanzania, the pair left for Lucknow in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India to help immunise hundreds of children against polio.
The couple – who met doing charity work in Nigeria more than 35 years ago – are both Rotarians and John has the leadership responsibility this year for 80 Rotary Clubs in Yorkshire.
He said: “We are greatly honoured to be nominated for the award. It was totally unexpected.”
MALCOLM ROEDER
FAMILY tragedy inspired Malcolm Roeder to dedicate a decade to raising more than £1m for teenage cancer patients.
The loss of his stepdaughter, Laura Crane, at the age of just 17 in 1996 changed his life forever.
His wife Jacquie – Laura’s mum – was determined to start a charity in her daughter’s memory.
And Malcolm supported her every step of the way, devoting hours of his own time and becoming treasurer.
Jacquie, who nominated Malcolm for the award, said: “The day Laura died I vowed to start a charity, backed every step of the way by my husband.
“Whatever life has thrown at me, however broken-hearted, frustrated, angry, worried, or confused I have been, he’s been my rock and always supported me.
“He has given so much of his own time to help bring Laura’s trust where it is today.
“I know he gets tired, but he never complains.”
Retired IT consultant Malcolm, 65, also supported the family financially to allow Jacquie to quit work and devote all her time to the charity.
He said: “Laura was a brave-spirited girl. The charity is a most fitting memorial to her short life.
“Laura was switched between adults’ and childrens’ wards, neither of which were suitable for her. That’s why the charity was set up to help teenage cancer patients.
“It has been hard work but very rewarding.”
