Basingstoke Freemasons have donated £1,000 to a cancer treatment foundation in the town. 

Basingstoke is home to one of the world’s “centres of excellence” for sharing lifesaving, life-enhancing knowledge and skills with cancer specialists -known as the Pelican Cancer Foundation, it is based in the purpose-built education and conference centre, The Ark.

Since 2001 more than 8,000 clinicians have attended Pelican training courses and meetings and, in the process, set national standards for cancer diagnosis and treatment.

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With no government funding the Pelican Cancer Foundation relies on donations and the Elvetham Masonic Lodge recently donated £1,000 to the organisation.

The donation will cover the costs of a full day of intensive training for two surgeons. This was part of a programme of charitable giving by the Lodge this spring totalling more than £5,000 it made to local causes.

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The Elvetham Lodge was founded 103 years ago based on the outskirts of Hartley Wintney remaining in the village until it moved in 1993 to join other Lodges based in the Masonic Centre in Victoria Street, Basingstoke. Today members live in and around Basingstoke which ensures that the Lodge maintains a close association with local groups.

Freemasons in the UK are recognised as major contributors to worthy causes. In Hampshire, around £1m per year is granted while across England it equates to around £58,000 per day.