CREDITON and District Lions Club has presented certificates to charities and good causes it raised money for in its firewalk event last year.

As many as 19 people braved walking over hot coals last October in Crediton Town Square.

From the money raised, £500 went to Hospiscare, £500 to Devon Air Ambulance, £500 to Exeter Leukaemia Fund, £400 to Mid Devon Mobility, £400 to Involve Mid Devon, £200 to Kick Start Art, and £100 to 2nd Crediton Rainbows.

The Lions Club gave out the certificates to representatives from the various groups at a presentation evening at Crediton cafe Elephant on the Green on Tuesday, September 16.

Hospiscare Area Fundraiser Ben Lovering said the money has supported the work of the local end-of-life charity, which gets just 24 per cent of its funding from the NHS.

Devon Air Ambulance’s Corporate Partnership Manager Tracy Hepper thanked the Lions for the £500 boost, saying it has paid for two bags for paramedics.

Mid Devon Mobility Transport Co-ordinator Sarah Holmes was also grateful to the Lions for paying to repair the tyres of one of the community transport service’s minibuses, which were stabbed by an unknown vandal earlier this year.

Emma Healey of Involve Mid Devon spoke about how the money gifted has gone towards a new community cookery hub initiative at Queen Elizabeth’s School.

Kick Start Art, a community art project launched earlier this year to encourage local youngsters to get creative, will use its £200 donation to buy certificates and medals for competition winners, Crediton and District Lions Club President Ann Whitehouse said.

And Sarah Moxey of 2nd Crediton Rainbows said the £100 gift from the Lions went towards a new flag for the group.

Crediton and District Lions Club is set to hold another charity firewalk event in Crediton Town Square on Saturday, October 4 from 6pm.