President Mandy’s charity for this year is Reuben’s Retreat it was set up on the 23rd of August 2012 in memory of Reuben who died just two days previous in his mummy’s arms on the 21st of August aged 23 months.
At our club meeting on the 20th May we were given a presentation by Reuben’s mother and two fellow workers.
Reuben had been enjoying a family holiday in Devon when a routine trip to A & E resulted in the worst nightmare imaginable.
Nobody could ever have known what was about to unfold for Reuben and his family, and what followed turned out to be the worst 7 days of their lives, Reuben was diagnosed to have a cancerous brain tumour.
The care that the family received, the families they met on the way and support they encountered inspired them to launch a charity in Reuben’s memory.
In April 2014, the charity had raised sufficient funds to purchase the retreat, a Victorian building set in parkland at Glossop, Derbyshire.
The retreat will be a place for children with life-limiting illnesses or disabilities and their families to relax, recharge and create memories.
Although it requires a great deal more money to be raised for the Victorian building to be adapted and completed to enable it to be used to its full potential it already serves as a bereavement counselling and support centre for parents and siblings who have suffered the loss of a child. The retreat welcomes families who live in the UK.
The club was pleased to present a cheque for £350 towards the cost of the building work and on the 6th of September are holding a Charity Golf Event at Alfreton Golf Course in aid of Reuben’s Retreat.
