Otley Lions are thanking everyone who supported them in 2012 – and looking forward to another busy year of fundraising.

The group held all kinds of activities, including pot-shies at Otley Show and Carnival, book sales at Bramhope Show and an Easter egg tombola to raise money for charity over the past 12 months.

Most recently, members, aided by Father Christmas, also held sleigh ride collections around Otley and a Santa’s grotto at Stephen H Smith garden centre.

The Lions’ fundraising efforts in 2012 were further boosted by being picked as one of Asda’s causes for the year as well as The Original Trading Company in Otley’s charity of the year, and from proceeds from its bookshop on Mercury Row.

Otley Lions membership secretary Patrick McCauley said: “We would like to thank all of the citizens and businesses who have provided financial and operational support; the club simply couldn’t function without you.

“Obviously, the purpose in raising funds is to spend the money on worthy causes and here, locally, nationally and internationally, the Lions have been very active.

“A specially-designed walking frame has been provided to one local girl; the Lions contributed to the expenses of another local girl to travel to the USA for a vital operation, and support has been given to the local Army Cadets.

“The major local initiative, meanwhile, has been to donate a substantial sum to the Leeds Children’s Heart Foundation.”

The Lions have also been supporting causes like Water Aid and books for the Bambisanani project, which is run by St Mary’s Catholic High School in Menston in partnership with the Mnyakanya School in South Africa.