Bowls captain raises funds for local support charity

A Warminster bowls captain has raised £465 for a local charity supporting people affected by social isolation, grief and cancer.

Sean Feeney led the Warminster Bowls Club’s annual Club Captain’s Day event, which raised £465.10 for Open Door Warminster.

The money will help the charity continue to offer free support through its cafes for people experiencing social isolation, dealing with grief and bereavement or affected by cancer.

“There are a couple reasons to why I chose Open Door,” said Sean. “It is a great local charity that supports local people with getting together to talk and meet others who have/had members of family who have cancer or suffering grief and want to get out and talk to others and share ideas – it’s great that there are volunteers who can support with this transition and offer a listening ear!

“The other reason is close to me, my dad suffered with pancreatic cancer before he passed in 2006, and this is my way to offer support.”

Sean recently met trustees Sue, Marion and John to hand over the donation at the Friday Grief and Bereavement Support Cafe.

“He explained that as the captain this year it was his decision to donate funds to a local charity supporting members of the local community, in both town and the surrounding villages,” said Marion. “He believed that Open Door Warminster provided such a service by welcoming people to their cafes at the Athenaeum.”

Open Door runs a social cafe, open to all, every Thursday morning from 10am until 12pm.

A prostate support group for men takes place on the second and fourth Monday of each month from 7pm until 8.30pm.

A cancer support group for anybody affected by cancer meets on the first and third Friday of each month between 10am and 12pm. The grief and bereavement group meets on the second and fourth Friday of each month between 10am and 12pm.

The cancer support cafe will host a cancer support worker team leader from Salisbury Hospital on 3rd October.

Visitors will be able to learn more about the cafe and the informal support the charity offers to anyone affected by cancer, including family and friends.

“The team leader will chat to our visitors individually, providing an opportunity for them to discover more about the work of her team within the hospital,” said a spokesperson.

“This opportunity to chat with a cancer support worker is very fitting as October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Many of our volunteers at the Cancer Support Cafe have lived experience of cancer.”