Julian Simmons backs Freemasons’ challenge to do something positive like bake a cake or write a letter

The project challenges people to complete a daily activity each day for two weeks, these include taking the time to write a letter to someone you can’t be with, planting in the garden or window box, baking or cooking something from scratch or even playing a game always enjoyed in the past.

Provincial Grand Master John McLernon said: “The ‘Freemasons Fortnight Challenge’ is a project that I hope we can all have a bit of fun with, setting ourselves daily challenges to help us continue to see the positives in life and look forward to brighter, more sociable days ahead.”

Helping to launch the project and encourage people to get involved is TV star, Julian Simmons.

His father, a Freemason, passed away when he was just a young boy and Julian says the organisation reached out with the offer of help for his family at what was a very difficult time.

“When my father passed away, I was just 11 years old, he had been an active Freemason and loved attending his lodge meetings.

“The Freemasons immediately reached out to my family and offered great support emotionally, they also offered to support my education by offering me a place in the Freemasons school in Dublin. I choose to stay at home but I am grateful for what they offered.

“To this day, despite the school no longer being in existence, this wonderful organisation of men continues to support the education of many children who have lost their Freemason fathers, an amazingly kind and generous thing to do at a time when families are in desperate need.

“I am delighted to support the Provincial Grand Lodge of Antrim in this exciting and worthy cause as they aim to eliminate feelings of loneliness and isolation across the province.

“On a personal level I have certainly found these last months difficult and while a positive mental attitude and plenty of phone calls with friends has helped there are days when it is more difficult than others, I’m sure having the focus of a challenge such as this will help many people through the darker days.”

Linda Robinson, chief executive, Age NI, (pictured) added: “The Freemasons are fortunate to have an existing supportive community and this challenge will provide a tremendous focus to help people take care of themselves and mind each other throughout the winter.”

*You don’t have to be a Freemason to get involved with the Freemason Fortnight Challenge, simply visit www.pglantrim.org to get your free downloadable brochure.