Fundraiser asking for public to vote for cause

A LEICESTERSHIRE-based charity which provides support to men diagnosed with prostate cancer is appealing for support in winning a £25,000 community award.

PROSTaid helps the 1,000 men across the county who are diagnosed with the illness every day.

They are appealing for friends, supporters and residents to vote online to help them receive up to a £25,000 Community Award from the Freemasons.

As part of the Freemason- ry’s 300th anniversary celebrations, the Masonic Charitable Foundation is handing out a whopping £3 million to 300 charities across the country, and PROSTaid is one of those selected.

The awards are open for voting now and will run until Monday July 31.

Each of the nominated charities will receive a grant, but the public vote will determine how much they receive, ranging from £4,000 to £25,000.

Norman Bell, Friends coordinator at PROSTaid, said that the grant would be “huge” for the charity.

He added: “PROSTaid is a local charity which supports the 1,000 men a year in Leicestershire and Rutland who are diagnosed with prostate cancer.

“We fund two PROSTaid prostate cancer specialist nurses, one at the Leicester Royal Infirmary and one at Leicester General, as well as new and innovative equipment to improve the treatment and recovery of men with the disease.

“A grant of £25,000 would make a huge contribution to our work. I would urge anyone and everyone to go online and vote for PROSTaid.

“Please remember that every single vote counts and it will not cost you anything.”

The Masonic Charitable Foundation obtains all of its funding from Freemasons and their families. Around half of Freemasonry’s £33m charitable expenditure goes to charities that help people in communities across the country.

David Hagger, from Leices- tershire and Rutland Freemasons, said: “We are proud to be able to support many charities across Leicestershire and Rutland, but in this special 300th anniversary year we want to involve the public, as well as local Freemasons, in deciding which of the nominated charities should benefit most. I urge everyone to visit the website and vote.”

To support PROSTaid, visit the MCF website www.mcf. org.uk/vote, select the Leicestershire and Rutland page and vote.