THE 29th Kendal Gathering Walk organised by the Morecambe Bay and Bowland Group of the Long Distance Walkers Association will take place next Saturday, September 4, in support of The League of Friends of Westmorland General Hospital. Routes are based around the Northern Reaches of the Lancaster Canal, the Helm, Lupton and Old Hutton and cover eight, 14 and 28 miles. The event is based at the out-patients department of the Kendal hospital and further details can be obtained from Frank Hodson of Toll Bar Cottage, Under-barrow, tel 01539-728280.

THE RNLI is holding a cross bay walk and fun run on Sunday, September 5, to raise funds for the Morecambe RLNI Hovercraft. The fun run will begin at Lakeland Leisure Park, Flookburgh, at 10am and will end 11 miles later at Hest Bank. The cross bay walk will begin at Hest Bank at 9.30am and end at Humphrey Head, Flookburgh. Participation in the bay walk costs £5 for adults and £3 for children. There is a £10 entrance fee for the fun run, which includes transport. For information, call 01524-824693.

KENDAL Castle Women's Institute is lending its support to the Keep Cumbria Tidy Campaign with a litter clean-up along the canal path below Kendal Castle. South Lakeland District Council is providing equipment for the litter-pick, on the afternoon of September 16. For details, call 01539-738677.

THE Christian Aid Week house-to-house collection held in May in Kendal and the surrounding villages raised £21,207.86. Christian Aid Week nationally was probably the most successful ever, with a predicted income of £15 million.

MEMBERS of the Union Masonic Lodge have made a donation of £500 to the Kendal Parish Church Roof Appeal. The Freemasons are also organising a concert of organ music at the church on September 19. For tickets, call 01229-773836.

CARTMEL Community Bonfire Committee is holding a coffee morning at Cartmel Village Hall on Saturday, August 21, between 10am and 2pm. The event will feature cakes, plants, a raffle and white elephant stall.

BLOOD donor sessions will be held at the St John Boste Social Club, Gillinggate, Kendal, on Tuesday, August 31, and The Institute, Kirkby Lonsdale, on Thursday, September 2, between 2pm-4pm, and 5.30pm-7.30pm.

Job of the week...

Volunteers are required to do a variety of tasks to aid the smooth-running of the Young Cumbria South Lakes office. This would include inputting data, answering the phone, etc. For more information, contact Abigail at Volunteer South Lakeland, Strickland-gate House, 92 Strickland-gate, Kendal, LA9 4PU, or tel 01539-742636.