Fundraising Gloucestershire Freemasons

Four Gloucestershire Freemasons have been in training this summer for a “yomp” from Cherbourg to the famous Pegasus Bridge in Normandy, raising money for BLESMA.

The mere 112 miles will be tackled starting on 05 Oct and will take around five days. Camping as they go, (to keep the costs down and the donations up), they will traverse all five of the Normandy beaches, Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword. They will be accompanied by a Land Rover and driver for logistical back-up. A welcoming committee will be on hand at the Pegasus Bridge Museum for their arrival! This strategic bridge was captured (and importantly held) just after midnight on D-Day, the “Ox and Bucks” being the first of the allies to land on that momentous June day 65 years ago.

The background to this feat revolves around one of their Brethren, Noel O’Driscoll, who suddenly and sadly passed away in January. An ex-soldier himself, he had just taken the chair of his lodge and his chosen charity for his year in office would have been BLESMA. A life-long supporter of the charity, in 1987, together with a serving policeman who was also to join Freemasonry some years later, he completed a charity walk from Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol to Pegasus Bridge, via Portsmouth / Cherbourg, and back, thereby collecting £5,000 for BLESMA. 

In memory of Noel, three Brethren from Tyndall Lodge (Rich Harris, Steve Bullen and Phil Green), plus Shaun Harris from Kingswood Chase Lodge, will be undertaking this challenge. They are already on their way to collecting a magnificent sum ~ only last month a wealthy donor gave a heart-stopping £10 per mile! (Work that out!) 

Donations via email to Richard Harris on richard@harveyshopfitters.co.uk or by visitinghttp://www.justgiving.com/pegasus2009/