Published on: 7 May 2018
The Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (RAOB) North Durham Province has raised an incredible £3,500 to help children in Sunderland between 2017 and 2018.
This is the second year the ROAB have supported patients at Sunderland Royal Hospital, after raising £3,000 for the Urology Treatment Centre in 2017 while under previous chairman Bob Gardner's leadership.
David Henderson, chair today told us: "During 2017 along with my officers we visited 16 lodges and members in Sunderland and Seaham area who made generous donations to this appeal.
"I also completed with work colleagues a charity cycle challenge from Berwick Upon tweed to Sunderland (127 miles) - donations were received from members of the RAOB from all over the country and even members in Belfast Northern Ireland. Throughout the year members also donated prizes and at the end of the year we held a final Christmas raffle."
As well as balancing his busy volunteer work chairing his local RAOB and fulltime job at HMP Holme House in Stockton, Mr Henderson used to steward SAFC matches where he had the opportunity to meet Niall Quinn. Popular Sunderland player Mr Quinn later donated all the proceeds of his testimonial match funds to children's causes around the world, including Sunderland, which culminated in the Niall Quinn Children's Outpatient Centre. Mr Henderson was inspired by his example, and decided the centre was a worthy cause for the RAOB to support.
The centre sees hundreds of children every week, from allergy clinics throgh to follow ups for minor surgery. The Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes generous support will go towards additional equipment for the centre, ensuring that it is not only once of the best children's centres for clinical care, but also one of the most comfortable and enjoyable for children and their families.
City Hospitals Sunderland Charity and City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundaiton Trust wish to extend our sincerest gratitute to North Durham's Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes for their generosity, kindess and continued support of their community.
The RAOB has existed since 1822 with lodges supporting communities across the country. The order is a fraternal organisation that exists to help the less fortunate in local communities, and offer a place of belonging and support to members.
