Kent Freemasons raise £3.65m

This is from the Daily Mail via the Press Association.


Freemasons in east Kent have donated £3.65 million to one of the organisation's charities.
The Freemasons' Grand Charity received the donation following a five-year fundraising appeal from members in the area.
The Grand Charity is one of four major Freemasons charities. It awards grants totalling almost £8 million each year, most of which go to individuals and charities across England and Wales.
Grants awarded in the last five years include £117,000 to cover the three-year salaries of two Marie Curie nurses in Kent and £120,000 to train apprentice stonemasons at Canterbury Cathedral.
Richard Hone QC, president of The Freemasons' Grand Charity, said: "We are tremendously grateful to the members of the province and their families for their contribution to our funds.
"Their hard work and dedication to fundraising means that The Grand Charity can continue to help communities with grants to medical research, support for vulnerable people, youth opportunities, hospice services, air ambulances, Freemasons and their dependents in financial need, and disaster relief work worldwide."
Geoffrey Dearing, Freemasons provincial grand master for east Kent, said: "All of the money for this appeal has been raised by the members of the province.
"I was delighted to be able to announce the culmination of their efforts and present a cheque to the president, Richard Hone QC, at our celebratory dinner in Folkestone.
"I know that our donation will help to change the lives thousands of people in need and I am so proud of all our members and their families for their generous support and the huge efforts they have made."
The Grand Charity has donated more than £120 million to help people in need since 1981.