Friendship, food and walking on fire

After months of meetings via Zoom, and moving towards a new ‘normal’, a group of local Rotarians was delighted to meet face to face and enjoy each other’s company.

With partners and friends, a group of 30 met at The Royal China.

The evening was organised by Ortons Rotarian, Mac Warwick, but members of four Rotary Clubs (Ortons, Peterborough, Minster and Huntingdon Cromwell) took part.

In a private room, we tucked into duck pancakes followed by a large range of delicious starters.

Just when we thought the evening could not get any better, the tasty main courses just kept on coming.

Ortons Rotarians donated prizes for a raffle, which helped to boost the final amount raised for our charity account to £195.

This was a bonus as the main purpose of this particular evening was food and friendship.

Many thanks go to both Mac and the staff at The Royal China, who looked after us so well.

Rotarians are always prepared to “walk the extra mile”, especially when it is to support a cause dear to their hearts.

Mostly the walking is on terra firma, but there are exceptions! Silly Sally’s Fire Walk was the idea of Sally Searle, the president of St Neots Rotary Club.

She said she decided that, at her age, she really ought to get on and do some of the silly things she thought would challenge her, things she has been holding off doing for many years.

The other driving force was having an opportunity to raise money for some very poor, deserving children on the other side of the world.

Last year, Sally went to “warm her tootsies” by walking on hot coals. She admitted she was really scared but determined to overcome her fears as she was doing it for such a great cause.

So she bit the bullet, rolled up her trousers and decided to find out what all the fuss was about.

It was hot, it did hurt and walking was difficult for several days afterwards, but it was something ticked off her bucket list (though not to be repeated!).

Little Faces Schools in Kenya provides education and food for children who would otherwise remain on the streets of Mombasa.

They are taught in English, giving them the chance of better jobs or entry to university, alternatives to perpetuating the cycle of poverty their parents are in. The meals are critical too. Sally thanked everyone who donated to her appeal. The money will go towards building the next floor of the primary school in Mombasa.