By Foday Moriba Conteh
During a press conference held on Wednesday 16th August, 2023, at the Georgeacland Masonic Temple on Lightfoot Boston Street in Freetown, the District Grand Lodge of Sierra Leone and The Gambia presented a cheque of 70 million (Old Leones) to the Cancer UK-Salone and the Sierra Leone Society for the Welfare of the Aged primarily working through the King George VI Memorial Home.
The District Grand Lodge presented 50 million Old Leones to the Cancer UK-Salone and 20 million Old Leones to the Sierra Leone Society for the Welfare of the Aged respectively.
In his address, the District Grand Master of the District Grand Lodge of Sierra Leone and The Gambia, Crispin Deigh said the donation was part of their efforts towards fulfilling the mission of the District Lodge on relief and charitable endeavours.
He stated that on the special occasion of the visit of the Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason, they deemed it fit to direct their 70 million Leones support to the Cancer UK-SALONE Charity, with focus on prostate diseases and the St George’s Home.
Crispin Deigh pointed out that the district and daughter lodges have at all times exercised the cardinal virtue of fraternity, which is to give relief to those in need, noting that against that backdrop, the district regularly offers relief gestures to institutions, organizations,
brethren, individuals, religious organizations and other deserving causes.
He also used the opportunity to inform the gathering that the St. George’s Home has been an annual recipient of a purse from the District Grand Lodge for the past several years and that the Cancer UK-Salone had received Le10,000 (approximately US$500) in February
2023, during their launch on World Cancer Day held on the 4th February, 2023. The District Grand Master used the opportunity to, on behalf of the District Grand Lodge of Sierra Leone and The Gambia, heartily welcome the M W Grand Master Mason Brother Ramsay McGhee, O St. J, D.L, and the Right Worshipful Grand Secretary Brother William M. S. Semple to the historical and loyal Province of Freedom, City of Freetown and in particular to the Georgacland Masonic Temple, Home of Scottish Freemasonry, for over a hundred years.
The recipient, on behalf of Cancer UK-Salone, Len Gordon Harris, expressed appreciation to the District Grand Lodge of Sierra Leone and The Gambia for the donation.
He said that Cancer UK-Salone, a registered charity with the UK Charity Commission, operates diligently in both the UK and Sierra Leone and that their partnership with the Ministry of Health, underscores their commitment to capacity building, advocacy,
education, and support in the realm of cancer.
Len Gordon Harris stated that in the realm of Prostate Cancer, their collaboration with Prostate Cancer UK and the support received marks a significant stride towards bridging care gaps and enhancing knowledge dissemination, adding that globally, 1 in 8 men get diagnosed with prostate cancer and amongst these, 1 in 4 black men are at risk of developing prostate cancer.
On her part, the Home Manager of the King George The 6th Memorial Home, Sis Makalay Mansaray, also expressed gratitude to the District Grand Lodge of Sierra Leone and The Gambia for the support extended to them.
She said that the District Grand Lodge had been supporting the Home of which she said they are very grateful and assured that the donation will be used judiciously towards supporting the Aged at the Home.
