West Group Freemasons help raise £16,000 for Sussex hospitals
West Group Sussex Freemasons were among the teams celebrated at the recent ‘First 50 Club’ awards evening, helping to raise thousands of pounds for local hospitals across the county.
Launched in April 2025 by the charity My University Hospitals Sussex, the ‘First 50 Club’ challenged businesses and organisations to turn an initial £50 into as much money as possible through creative fundraising initiatives. The charity supports hospitals across Sussex, including Chichester and Worthing, funding treatment, care and research that go beyond core NHS provision to enhance services for patients and staff.
The awards ceremony, held at Chichester Rugby Club on 30 January, revealed that participating teams had collectively raised an impressive £16,000.
Representing the West Group Sussex Freemasons at the event were Guy Purser, Phill Sanders and Phil Pede. Their team raised £1,898 through a series of fundraising activities, including a charity dinner in Worthing featuring trans-Atlantic rower Sam Weber as guest speaker, and a tabletop sale in Bognor.
Speaking after the event, Guy Purser said: “This has been a fantastic opportunity for Freemasons across West Sussex to come together and support the vital work of our local hospitals. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of turning £50 into £1,898, and it’s been rewarding to see how the community has supported our events. We’re grateful to My University Hospitals Sussex for inviting us to take part.”
The contribution highlights the continued commitment of local Freemasons to supporting community fundraising initiatives across West Sussex.
For more information about Freemasonry in West Sussex, visit www.wgsm.co.uk.
For more information about My University Hospitals Sussex, visit www.myuhsussex.org.