The Bridgnorth Lions

Bridgnorth Lions Club is made up of a group of like-minded men and exists to help those in the community who are disadvantaged or in need of help. Since 1976 we have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds, all from around Bridgnorth and the surrounding area, and every penny has been used to help those less fortunate than ourselves.

We are part of Lions Clubs International (LCI), the world’s largest service organization, whose motto is “We Serve”.

Having 1.4 million members spread across the globe, LCI has the proud boast that no money donated by the public is used for administration costs.

Because we are local, we serve the unique needs of the community in which we live. But as we are global, we can also address international challenges such as help for earthquake victims or other natural disasters wherever they occur.

The vast majority of our work is centred on the Bridgnorth community. If you ask any of our members, they’d say that having fun while helping their local community is what it’s all about – from helping individuals with problems/needs to organizing the annual prostate cancer testing (PSA) event or the renowned Bridgnorth Walk. All the charitable work we undertake has to be paid for and Bridgnorth members raise money throughout the year. Bonding the club together is a very active social calendar, which is enjoyed by all members and partners.

If you’d like to make a difference in the community, now is the opportunity to get in touch with us.

The whole club meets once a month on the second Tuesday at The Down pub, near Bridgnorth. The meeting starts with a meal and is followed by the business session where various topics are discussed and voted upon, usually finishing around 10pm.

Each member is assigned to one of three committees (which also meet once a month).

The committees are:

Fundraising

Organises events/activities to raise money for our various “good causes”.

Welfare

This is the committee which decides how we spend our money. Specifically, it also organises events or outings for “special needs” or older members of the community.

Social

Having fun is important to Lions members – a wide range of events are arranged for the benefit of members, family and friends.

What it costs: all the money donated by the public is used for charitable purposes. The club’s administration expenses are met by the annual subscription, currently £90, payable in two instalments.

International: for information on our activities around the world click here.

Founded in Chicago Illinois U.S.A in 1917 by an Insurance agent Melvin Jones, Lions Clubs International offers people a way of sharing their personal success by helping those less fortunate than themselves. The association became International when the first Club in Canada was formed in 1920.

Through membership Lions not only help people in need, but have opportunities to develop personal friendships, and gain valuable leadership skills.

If any man out there feels that he, too, would like to make a difference in the community, now is the opportunity to get in touch with us.

For more information on Lions International, please go to the global website by clicking here

Prostate cancer is the most common male cancer in the UK, accounting for almost a quarter of male cancers. Each year, nearly 35,000 men are diagnosed and more than 10,000 die from the disease.

Men over fifty may develop early prostate cancer which is still at the curable stage. A simple blood test may indicate the signs of early changes to the level of Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA).

Since 2009, Bridgnorth Lions have organised more than 6,000 tests, from which 300 men have required treatment for prostate cancer.

Bridgnorth Lions carry out this event each year in October. No charge is made but as each test costs £15 men are encouraged to make donations as large as possible.

David Baxter-Smith, a retired consultant urologist, said: "The men of Bridgnorth obviously realize the importance of the test. The work done by the Lions in organizing the event each year has paid dividends with this size of attendance.  As a result more men will have the opportunity to know whether they are likely to be impacted by this terrible disease."

All the men tested receive the results of their blood test within a few weeks of the test session. Men showing higher than normal levels of PSA in their blood are advised to seek further advice from their GPs or from urological specialists.