A Freemasons lodge will donate over £1000 to a community hospital to help with their diabetes treatment team.
The Skiddaw Masonic Lodge in Cockermouth will present a cheque to the town’s community hospital on December 3.
John Irving, worshipful master at the lodge, said the amount raised is at around £1300 at the moment.
Money has been raised via various means such as bingo nights and food events.
The lodge makes an effort to organise many events, Mr Irving said, adding that other lodges have offered their support, such as the one in Keswick.
He said of the decision to donate the money to the hospital: “It's up to the master at the time to decide where that money goes.
“Sometimes it's for the blood bikes, which we’ve supported before, other times it’s the air ambulance.
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“It depends, and some members of the lodges have been flown out from accidents and have fully recovered, so they feel strongly about donating back.
“I decided that we would do it for them.
“Both Julie (Mr Irving’s wife) and I have diabetes, and there are a lot of people at the practice with diabetes, so we decided to put a bit back to help them out.”
At the presentation in December, which is scheduled to be at the lodge, some hospital staff will deliver a presentation on their work with diabetic patients in the area and will be invited to join the masons for a meal.
They will also sing Christmas carols as it will be the last lodge meeting before Christmas, Mr Irving added.
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