Thirty seven Lions clubs across the Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Coromandel region raised more than $50,000 when they took to the streets with collection buckets to launch the 202L district campaign to raise $3 million for the Cancer Society's Lions Lodge in Hamilton.

Mike Hanaray, chairman of the co-ordinating committee for the Lions Lodge fundraising project, commented:

"There was a great turn out of Lions from the whole of the district, and we are very appreciative of the support we received from the general public.

"We have achieved a greater understanding of the need for the Lodge in the minds of the general public and we look forward to their on-going support to achieve the objective of completing the new Lions Lodge on the old Braemar Hospital site," he said.

The new 2450 square metre Cancer Society's Lions Lodge will have an increase in bedrooms to 50 as well as five family units along with computer facilities and activity, therapeutic massage and meeting rooms, a library and lounges overlooking the Hamilton Lake.

The Lodge will be able to accommodate approximately 600 people from around the Waikato/Bay of Plenty/Coromandel region per year. It will provide free accommodation and meals in a 'home away from home' atmosphere for people receiving treatment for cancer at the Waikato Regional Cancer Centre.

Waikato/BOP Cancer Society Chief Executive Judy Gould says the project is the biggest in the organisation's history and means more people can make use of the society's support services.

"The Lions Lodge is a wonderful place which goes a long way towards supporting those in our community affected by cancer. Our new Lodge will benefit and support even more people at what can be an emotional and stressful time."

Lions throughout the district have undertaken all kinds of fundraising events for this major project, including a telephone appeal, a Trust Waikato Symphony Orchestra concert 'Scandinavian Moods' featuring Greig and Sibelius and prize-winning soloist Tiantian Xu, a mid-winter dinner at Waihi and a show and shine car show.

Photo: An artist's impression of the Cancer Society's Lions Lodge.

Note: The Cancer Society’s Lions Lodge is now open for business, but the fundraising is on-going.