BRECON Lions Club together with the ‘Cartrefi Cymru’ team attended the ‘Bob Cooke Games’ in Swindon again this year.

Thirty-six people travelled with four Lion members by coach, a further 17 by car (staff bringing the disabled by car) making a total of 53 attending as part of ‘Brecon Lions – Cartrefi Cymru Team’.

The weather was very misty when we left but cleared by the time we reached England and it turned out to be a fantastic sunny day.

We at Brecon Lions Club sponsor the ‘Team’ by raising funds from the public. Sponsorship includes providing the coach and in addition a donation to Chippenham Lions Club to provide financial support to run the ‘Bob Cooke Games’. Every penny raised for charity goes to our charitable account for events such as this.

The ‘Bob Cooke Games’ was started by President Bob Cooke of Chippenham Lions Club over 30 years ago. Chippenham Lions Club are assisted before and on the day by Swindon Lions Club, Calne Lions Club and other local Lions Clubs. Finance is raised mainly by Chippenham Lions assisted by other Clubs around the District 105W.

We at Brecon Lions Club usually provide the largest team.

The event is held on a Sunday the second week of August each year. Brecon Lions Club members attend with ‘Team Cartrefi Cymru’ and will provide snacks on the journey to Swindon with a substantial packed lunch provided by Chippenham Lions Club.

The host club pay for and put together lunch early in the morning on the day. Lions, partners and friends of Chippenham Lions transport the packed lunches to the event by a van and are distributed at the break around 12.45pm.

Shelter is provided for all by open sided large marquees with tables and chairs. The whole event is extremely well organised with timing of events spot on. The events started at 10am and finished around 4pm. We arrived back in Brecon at 6.30pm thanks to ‘Williams’ coach driver.

On the day, the events include races around the track (in varying lengths), including races for wheelchair bound contestants. In-field events for the less abled are ‘Welly Boot Throwing’, Javelin (small light plastic – without a point), the discus, shot put, wheelchair slalom and this year for a change ‘French Boules’.

Every entrant leaves with a medal. No one is left out but those that come first, second or third are presented with medals with different colour ribbon for position.

This year one of the Cartrefi contestants, David Worth collected a special trophy for his enthusiasm, effort and determination. This trophy was presented by the District Governor Lion Steve Petty who was in attendance. This year we came away again with many gold medals (yellow) some with five or six! The biggest haul was nine medals by one of our contestants. The delight on the competitor’s face when presented with their medal/s is a delight and worth a thousand words.

All those Brecon Lion members that attend are impressed with the hard work, energy and effort that these contestants put in.

We applaud the work that Cartrefi Cymru staff do to make ‘service users’ enjoy this day working hard to encourage them to make the effort.

It is no small feat to get ‘service users’ to the bus on time but the staff of Cartrefi Cymru managed to gather them altogether and be at the Brecon bus station before 7am on the morning. The Cartrefi Cymru staff are nothing short of marvellous in their patience and help.

All in all, it was a lovely day for contestants, helpers and Lions alike.

This is what Lion membership is all about. Helping those who are less fortunate than ourselves. If you are local and interested in what we do, why not consider helping us in our ‘service’ to the community.

Lions motto is ‘We Serve’ which basically means we serve our community by providing help. Where there is a need there is a Lion.

Finally, none of the above would have happened had it not been for your kind donations. This was paid for with your help and Brecon Lions Club are more than grateful for your support.

Sadly, Bob Cooke passed away over 20 years ago.