AYR Rotary Club have celebrated another successful year, marking it with their first very virtual AGM.

With social distancing measures making it impossible for the Rotarians to meet up, they held their review of the 2019/20 year online.

Despite coronavirus threatening to hamper their year, outgoing club president Ieuan Isaac advised members that the club had achieved what it set out to do, demonstrating remarkable stories of success across community projects.

Ron Ireland of the club said: “He (Ieuan) remarked on the amazing vibrancy of the club which had made a significant difference to the lives of many people and he attributed this to the dedication, enthusiasm, and professionalism of all of the members.”

Around £19,000 was donated or secured for good causes.

These included helping primary school children with essential clothing, with a substantial donation to Newton Primary School.

Ayrshire Young Carers also benefitted to help those facing difficult family situations, and the Salvation Army food bank were also benefactors.

Help was also given through the club’s Treasure Chest Fund, regularly

benefitting many varied and deserving applicants.

Support for international organisations was provided to the Aquabox charity to provide water to disaster stricken zones across the world.

Help was also sent to the Abbas Rest Charity, providing training for sustaining a solar power project in Malawi to enable villagers to continue to benefit from water wells previously delivered and funded by the club.

A sizeable portion of the funds allocated were raised through the Christmas

Charity Concert staged by the Ayr Rotary Club together with the Salvation Army’s Ayr Community Church.

A further £2,500 was also secured charities including Ayrshire Young Parkinson’s Group, Sepsis Research, Crossroads and Samuel’s Smile.

Looking ahead to the next year, Ron told the Ayr Advertiser: “New initiatives are already being discussed and projects planned for what will be a very different world from the one we had all become used to.”

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