Four local charities have benefited from a donation by the Freemasons Fund of Bermuda.

Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre, the Eliza DoLittle Society, the Bermuda Society for the Blind and Friends of Hospice each received $2,000 raised entirely through the Freemasons’ membership.

The donation brings the total raised by the fund to $256,000 since its launch in 1981.

Tara Soares, executive director at the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre said: “The funds we receive in 2014 will go directly towards helping those members of our community who do not have health insurance so they can get access to important cancer protection testing. We do about 12,000 patient appointments every year and 8 per cent of that group have no health insurance, so being recognised by the Freemasons and being provided by this donations will tremendously help.”

The Society for the Blind’s donation came at a particularly good time. Dudley Cottingham, board member for the charity and treasurer for the Freemasons Fund for Bermuda, explained: “The charity is delighted to be receiving this, especially as they have now employed a vision rehabilitation therapist, which is the first time we have had that programme being delivered on the Island. This is really good timing for them; they are very grateful.”

Friends of Hospice is the only facility in Bermuda for the terminally ill, providing palliative care for the terminally ill from Agape House, while the Eliza DoLittle Society helps anyone in Bermuda who is food insecure.

Marshall Minors, the president of the Freemasons in Bermuda, said: “It is part of the Freemason’s ethos, our culture: to help those who really can’t help themselves or are in need of help. Often they make anonymous donations, but the Freemasons Fund for Bermuda gives us an opportunity for the community to recognise outwardly and openly the contributions that we give.”