White Rose - Masonic Province of Yorkshire, West Riding

MASONIC SAMARITAN FUND
SUPPORTS LOCAL RESEARCH
ADVENTURE WEEKEND
FOR MENCAP JYC
Prof Matthew Holley discussing the finer parts of the research with Prof. Marcetti, Dr Fellerman,
and Emily Pavey
Brethren will be well aware that
the MSF, the youngest of the central
Masonic charities, provides services
to Masons and their dependants who
require services of a medical and
dental nature, where such services
are not available on the NHS, or where
the waiting list is deemed inordinately
long. Of course, your lodge Charity
steward can help with this.
In recent years, the MSF has
diversifi ed in several directions.
Amongst the foremost of these
has been donations to sponsor
medical research, especially in
areas where Masons might be
affected. To this end, research into
prostate disease and deafness have
featured. Sheffi eld University School
of Biomedical science was awarded
a grant of £25,000 to fund research
into deafness. This grant has enabled
Dr Stuart Johnson to work with
Professor Walter Marcetti in studying
the intricate workings of the inner ear.
On the face of it, this pure research may
not seem to have immediate benefi ts
to Masons who are hard of hearing,
but advances in restoring hearing are
unlikely to bear fruit until the basic
mechanisms causing deafness are
understood at a fundamental level.
Prof. Marcetti’s research examines the
mechanisms by which hearing develops
in neonates and children.
Representatives of the MSF, Dr
Andrew Henderson, MSF member,
and Dr Simon Fellerman, MSF Trustee,
together with Emily Pavey, Senior
Fundraising executive of RNID (now
Action on Hearing Loss), were invited
to the laboratory in Sheffi eld University
to review the work, and to witness
progress in the research.
This was followed by an enjoyable
and instructive half day touring the
facilities, at which the University
expressed their thanks for the
assistance that the Masonic Grant had
made to their efforts.
Mencap, as a whole, provide a range of
services and activities to improve the lives
and opportunities of children and adults with a
learning disability, along with their families and
carers. The Junior Youth Club is a particular
group aimed at 14-18 year old’s and offers
a fun, relaxed, safe place for teenagers with
additional needs to meet and socialise with
their peers.
This month 20 members of the JYC are
being taken to the Calvert Trust in the Lake
District for a weekend. The Trust enables
people with disabilities to achieve their
potential through the challenge of outdoor
adventure in the countryside. The benefi ts
of the activities include the enrichment in
the life of each individual through adventure
and personal achievement. They will also
have the chance to enjoy the countryside
and recreational opportunities that can be
transferred into everyday living.
Pictured with Bro Ralph Lennard (Secretary)
and W Bro Dinzie Archibald (WM) of Victoria
Lodge No 2669 are Nicola Goldberg, Louise
Palin and Jacqui Driscoll of the Leeds Mencap
Junior Youth Club at the recent presentation
of a cheque for £1,000 from the Queen’s
Diamond Jubilee Masonic Grants to fund an
adventure weekend at the Calvert Trust.
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10 White Rose Masonic News Spring 2013