The Orange Foundation trustees: meet Stuart Crane

Tell us a little bit about yourself, where you live and how you became involved with The Orange Foundation?

I live in Fulwood and am happily retired. My hobbies are generally sport-orientated and include cycling, playing racquetball and walking (which I don’t get around to doing as often as I can). I also swim and exercise to counteract any excesses of food and drink! Being retired gives me time to do everything at a leisurely pace and enables me to help out with ‘Grandparenting’ duties to our three great-grandchildren, who live just a 10-minute walk away.

I have been a member at Preston Grasshoppers for many years, most of which as a rugby member and then, since hanging up my boots, as a squash/racquetball member.     

I met Michael Gregory, the founder of The Orange Foundation, at the club. We previously played rugby together, and now we play racquetball with a couple of other ex-players. The wider ex-players group also extends to a social cycling group aptly named the ‘Faffalots’.

Over the last 10 years, the Faffalots have done several ‘Coast to Coast’ rides and have raised a total of over £20k for various charities, including St Catherines Hospice, The Stroke Association, Rosemere Cancer Foundation, Space Centre, Prostate Cancer UK, Alder Hey Family House Trust Ltd and Macmillan Cancer Support.

What advice would you give to those considering getting involved with our charity, either as a fundraiser, donor or supporter?

Anyone reading this who is considering getting involved with the charity as a fundraiser, donor or supporter should have a look at the website and, ideally, get in touch with Michael. I’m not sure if it was through my friendship with Michael that he asked me to be a Trustee for The Orange Foundation or if it was because I was retired and had some spare time! Either way I was pleased to be asked and glad to be able to help out with what is a great new initiative to further support people living with cancer.

Looking ahead, what are some key goals or projects you’re excited to focus on as a trustee?

My main role within the charity is very much as an administrator – producing papers for our meetings, taking minutes etc. The other Trustees do all the hard work as they have taken on the challenge and are at the forefront of fundraising activities from inception to completion.