Charity/voluntary

A FIREFIGHTER from Ruislip is putting himself through the gruelling Virgin London Marathon to raise money for the National Autistic Society (NAS).

Wayne Geen, 34, of St Margaret's Road, decided to take part in the 26-mile run on Sunday, April 25, after his identical twins, Jamie and Lewie, aged eight, were diagnosed with autism four years ago.

Come and Join the Christmas festivities at The Church of Most Sacred Heart, Pembroke Road, Ruislip. On Saturday 5th December from 10.30 - 2pm.

UNWANTED computers and IT equipment is needed to send to schools, libraries and projects across Africa.

Computers 4 Africa, a non-profit organisation, are holding a donation appeal on November 27 and 28 from 9am to 5pm at the former Focus site, in Victoria Road, South Ruislip.

The charity will be holding appeals in South Ruislip four times a year.

FRIENDS and family members of a seven-year-old girl who has a life-threatening form of cancer are trying to raise £300,000 so she can receive critical treatment in America.

Robyn Higgins, who used to live in Willow Grove, Ruislip, before moving to Surrey last year, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in May.

A HOSPICE that looks after people with illnesses they cannot recover from has opened two new charity shops.

Last Thursday (12) the Mayor of Hillingdon, Councillor Shirley Harper-O'Neill, opened the new Harlington Hospice shops in West Drayton and Victoria Road, Ruislip Manor.

A TV actor starred in a Ruislip concert to help raise funds for local charities.

Gordon peters, who has had roles in Dad's Army, One Foot in the Grave and My Family, starred in Ruislip Lions Club's charity concert, The Humour of Gilbert and Sullivan, at Winston Churchill Theatre, in Pinn Way, Ruislip, on Friday (6)

Geoff Brown, a member of the club, said: "Gordon entertained the audience with stories and songs from popular Gilbert and Sullivan operas.

"It was an undeniable success with proceeds going to local charities.

"The retiring collection also raised much needed funds for the Macmillan nurses."

CHURCH members who have already managed to raise £14,000 for a children's charity are holding a Christmas market with the aim of surging past their target of £15,000.

Then look no further. A therapy day in aid of the Buddhist Charity Lelung Dharma Trust is being held at The Stables, Manor Farm Site, Ruislip on Sunday 15th November from 10am-4pm.

A CARING friend who put himself through a gruelling 26 mile marathon to raise money for the Down's Syndrome Association has managed to raise well over his target amount.

Ben Fitzgerald, 29, of Manningtree Road, South Ruislip, decided to take part in the New York Marathon on Sunday (1) after his close friends' baby was born with Down's syndrome.

This was the first ever marathon and charity event he has taken part in and he managed to complete it in four hours and 28 minutes, so far raising more than £3,000 - beating his target of £2,000.

To sponsor him go to www.justgiving.com/Ben-Fitzgerald/ and for more information go to www.maisieturner.com

CHILDREN and adults came together to help plant bulbs in a park as part of a community project.

Friends of Churchfield Gardens have been organising two or three events every year since the group started 10 years ago to improve the look of the park, in Eastcote Road, Ruislip.

Last Thursday (29) members of the group and other neighbours planted about 200 daffodil bulbs with help from Hillingdon Council's green spaces team.

Christine Jamison, of Midcroft, Ruislip, is the chairwoman of the group and helped to organise the day.

She said: "We set the group up about 10 years ago because the park was always getting vandalised and it looked absolutely awful.

"We do a lot of community projects in there now because we are really keen to keep the standards up.

"Last year the park was awarded Green Flag status and we have just been re-awarded that this year.

"Every year we move around to a different area of the park to plant bulbs to give it a bit of colour in the spring.

"The bulbs were paid for with money from the group's kitty."