Devizes Mayor John Leighton handed out cheques for a total of £10,950 to good causes in the town on Monday, courtesy of the Devizes Lions Club.

At the event in the town hall the money was presented to over 30 groups and individuals deserving financial support. The money was raised from the Lions’ regular annual events, including the Christmas toy fair in the Corn Exchange, Santa’s journey throughout the area and the May Day Fair.

Devizes Lions’ president Jerry King said: “These events form the mainstay of our fundraising activities and in this year of financial turmoil and credit crunch we truly thank the people of Devizes for their continued support and generosity.

“With their help we have been able to donate £30,000 to various local good causes and charities in 2009.

“This has ranged from helping local families with school uniforms and visits through to helping the charities gathered today.

“In addition, we have continued to support Lions International projects such as Sight First and the people of Devizes can be justly proud that through their donations Devizes Lions have funded operations to save the sight of over 500 African people in the last three years.”

Among the recipients on Monday evening were Alzheimer’s Support, Arthritis Care, All Cannings School, Bath Samaritans, Canons House, CLIC Sargent, Crown Centre, Devizes and District Link, Devizes Air Training Corps, Devizes Blind Club, Devizes Dazzlers, Devizes Community Radio, Devizes PHAB, Devizes Child Contact Centre, Devizes Food Bank, Devizes Partnership of Churches, Devizes Pensioners and Over 60s, North Wilts Holiday Club, the Gateway Club, the Hi-Way Club, the Monday Club, the MS Society of Devizes, Devizes Opportunity Centre, the Tuesday Club, Victim Support Wiltshire, Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust and Youth Action Wiltshire.