Rick Wakeman Appeal Update

A fantastic £20,199 has so far been raised through our annual Rick Wakeman Christmas Appeal.

Launched each November, the appeal raises vital funds for assistive technology packages for our hospice partners, and has been led by our Patron, music legend W.Bro Rick Wakeman of IPM Chelsea Lodge No 3098.

The theme of this appeal centred on celebrating the 25-year partnership between Lifelites and Freemasonry, a collaboration that has helped over 160,000 seriously ill children access our inclusive technology.

Lifelites was created as a Millennium Project of the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys in 1999 and for a quarter of a century we have worked together to empower children and young people with life-limiting conditions to live their best possible lives, and to help families share moments of joy in the short time they often have together.

Rick has been leading the appeal since 2015 and has, through the generosity of Lodges across London and the UK, raised tens of thousands of pounds that has gone directly to enable children with complex medical needs to play, create and communicate in ways that would otherwise be impossible.

Rick, who received a CBE in 2022 and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, has spoken about his passion for Lifelites and Freemasonry, saying:

“Lifelites was created within Freemasonry and has been taken to heart by Freemasons up and down the country. As a proud Freemason myself, it’s an honour to be Patron and champion this unique charity within the Masonic community and beyond.”

Donations from this year’s appeal will be used to provide life-changing technology to our fifteen 2025/26 installation partners, including Naomi House in Winchester, the James Hopkins Trust in Gloucester and Helen House in Oxford.

On behalf of Lifelites, Rob Lightfoot, CEO, said: “Every year the generosity and kindness of Lodges across the UK clearly demonstrates the inherent desire of Freemasons to support the most vulnerable families in their communities.

As a national charity that works at a local level to give opportunities to children with life-limiting conditions, our partnership with Freemasonry has never been stronger or more important. On behalf of the families we support, we would like to say a huge heartfelt thank you to all of the Lodges that have donated now and in the past.”