AFTER seeing the organisation raise more than £20,000 for good causes over the past year the new chairman of the St Helens Rotary Club is urging residents to join up and continue its charitable legacy.

Stephen Lawson, 64, has succeeded Gowdagere Jayaram to lead the rotary into its 93rd year. The organisation raised funds for groups ranging from small clubs like The Vikings Wheelchair Basketball Club to larger well-known organisations such as Willowbrook Hospice.

Donations also including helping provide commentary for the blind at Saints' home games and for the Africa's Children in Education (ACE) charity, run by Sue and Ron Hayes, from Windle which has helped provide schooling for impoverished children in Tanzania.

And Stephen, who lives in Moss Bank, is determined to continue the work.

Steve, 64, said: “It’s simple, the more people who can help us, the more service projects we can run and funds we can raise, and the more money we can distribute in St Helens.

"My message to the people of St Helens is if you can spare us a little of your time this next 12 months, you will be helping rotary help St Helens."

People can help by donating an hour or two of time to help at a particular event, becoming a ‘friend’ of St Helens Rotary, joining the club or becoming an ‘associate’ or part-time member of the club.

The St Helens Rotary's main events coming up include several supermarket ‘bag packing’ days, a spectacular bonfire and fireworks evening at Rainford on Saturday, November 7 and a 'Santa's Sleigh' in homes and supermarkets in December.

“I have been in rotary for almost nine years and I am always delighted to see how much goodwill exists for the club and the name rotary," added Stephen, a former worker at P&O.

Anyone who wants to find out how to become involved can visit www.rotarysthelens.org or contact Celia Parr on 01744 737492.