Lions Club of Bridgend

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Our annual Christmas Tree of Light has been organised in conjunction with St Mary’s Church who very kindly agreed to site the Tree outside the Church on Ewenny Road, Bridgend.

A Christmas Tree decorated with over 400 white lights is set up under the canopy of the church in early December. A short dedication service is held before the light are switched on, with Christmas Carols led by St. Mary's School Choir. This year the dedication service was held on 7th December 2009.

Sponsor Forms for Christmas 2010 will be available to download here from November 2010.

The Tree of Light is a point of focus for people who want to remember a loved one or a special cause at Christmas. Individuals dedicate a light on the Tree for £5.00 and receive from the Lions Club a commemorative card to say that their name and that of their loved one(s) or cause are recorded on a board kept alongside the tree for all to read. Throughout the Christmas period the board is updated constantly as new names are added.

In its two years to date the Tree has enabled us to raise over £3,500 which has supported not only local causes such as Heronsbridge School but has also contributed substantially to a Lions International project (Campaign Sight First II) which has helped to prevent blindness in more than 24,000,000 people in developing countries.

In 2009 the nominated Charities to benefit from the Tree of Light proceeds were Mental Health Matters of Bridgend and the Handicapped Children’s Pilgrimage Trust.

To mark the switching on of the lights a short service of dedication is held around the tree when all sponsors and anyone else interested are invited to attend.

Lion John Craxton leads the short but enjoyable service in the foyer of St Mary's Church

Lion Simon Dawkes presents a Certificate of Appreciation to Father Isaac in December 2008.

The picture below shows representatives from Mental Health Matters receiving a cheque for £800 (one half of the proceeds of the 2009 Tree of Light) from Lions President Godfrey Morris.