On 25th of each month, Soroptimists around the world join other organisations, including the UN, to ‘Orange the World’. Orange, the colour of hope represents a future free from violence against women and girls. To publicise this, SI Cannock & District plan to visit a different local café each month, dressed in orange! They will take along information on where women who may be experiencing domestic abuse can get support, details of projects the club supports and other useful contacts. They will also enjoy a cup of coffee together. 25th July was their first ‘Orange Café’ outing! Seven members met at Savannah’s Tea Rooms in Rugeley who were great hosts, allowing the ladies to display their leaflets and goodies. They chatted to the people of Rugeley who were very welcoming and hopefully enjoyed the splash of colour on a grey July day! The ladies enjoyed

Following a break in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Ironman 70.3 returned to Staffordshire at the weekend and Cannock Soroptimists were again pleased to be able to support their local community by volunteering for the event. In the week leading up to the race, 6 Soroptimists went along to Stafford to help with packing the bags for the athletes. They put in a full day’s work – particularly hard going at times because it was so hot, but even so they enjoyed each other’s company and prepared almost 1600 bags for the athletes. On race day, 4 club members rose early to be at Chasewater to marshall the first points of the bike race – as ever it was a fun occasion. Competitors had completed the one and a half mile swim in Chasewater and begun the 56 mile bike ride on their way

Soroptimists in the UK are raising awareness amongst women and girls about the debilitating condition Endometriosis, which affects around 1.5 million women in the UK. As part of this campaign members of SI Cannock spent a morning at the Cannock campus of South Staffs College recently, talking to students and staff, giving them information about the condition, including the signs and symptoms to look out for. Many women suffer undiagnosed for many years meaning that they spend much of their time in considerable pain and discomfort. Help is available if only the condition can be recognized. Symptoms can include painful periods, pain during or after intercourse, chronic pelvic pain, painful bowel movements and fatigue. It is important to know that endometriosis is NOT an infection or a cancer and it CANNOT be passed from one person to another. Many women put up with some or