THE ceremonial switch-on of Malvern Rotary Club’s Tree of Light will take place in Priory Park on Monday at 6pm.

The club has run the campaign for the last fourteen years, and in that time raised £130,000 fopr a variety of good causes.

Over the last two weeks, the Gazette has described the two main charities, St Richard’s Hospice and Malvern Heartstart, which the club is supporting this year.

Spokesman Barry Jones said: "As well as these, the club raises money in a number of different ways, such as our pancake race, at which local charities can raise funds for themselves by taking part.

"We will also support the Rotary International campaign to eradicate polio throughout the world. This highly successful campaign has resulted in there being only two countries left in which the disease is still endemic although a minor setback occurred in 2016 when two cases were reported in Nigeria, thus emphasising the importance of continuing the effort. In the UK, the Rotary campaign Purple4Polio has a number of fundraising events."

The Malvern club will continue its support for What Makes You Different Makes You Beautiful, the charity set up by nurse Kim Philpotts, the club's recent community award winner, to bring together families with special needs, and Acorns Children's Hospice.

Mr Jones said: "Whenever a disaster occurs we aim to help, in the UK by manpower, overseas we support a UK organisation which provides emergency equipment containing vital necessities: Shelterboxes. Rcently these have been sent to the Caribbean following hurricanes Irma, Jose and Maria, and also to Bangladesh for the Myanmar refugees.

"Your donations will go to all these worthy causes in the knowledge that the funds will be delivered directly to those on the ground doing the work."

A list of donors and lives remembered will be displayed at Malvern Theatres, on Rotary’s website and in the Malvern Gazette.