The Kardias Club recently marked 40 years of serving Bermuda with a gala dinner/dance to support the Intensive Care Unit at the King Edward Hospital.

Dubbed a "Twilight Fantasy" the Kardias planned to raise $40,000, a thousand dollars for each year of their existence.

"We regard this as our birthday bash, which is shaping up to be our biggest charity event ever," said Club president Lucille Parker-Swan, who indicated that over the years Kardias has supported over a dozen organisations and individuals in need of assistance.

"We believe that all of our causes are worthy, but this year we chose to support the hospital as it is a vital need for all our community, particularly at this time."

The Kardias was formed originally as the Alpha Wives Club by the wives of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity members. They began their charitable work as a women's auxiliary, assisting the fraternity in their educational and cultural endeavours.

"It was soon recognised that the auxiliary would be far more effective as a separate entity," says Mrs. Parker Swan, "as the Fraternity had become more involved in other spheres of community service."

The name Kardias was taken from the Greek words kardia and kardiakos, which mean heart and the club motto, "A heart to glow for others good", was adopted to blend the club's name and its purpose.

In 1964 the constitution was amended and the Kardias Club became an official registered charity, said Mrs. Parker-Swan.

With a diverse membership of women whose ages range from mid-30s to 70, they meet monthly in the homes of members. Some of the large projects undertaken over the years include assisting the furnishing of the Sunshine League playroom and the re-motivation ward (Hinson's) at St. Brendan's Hospital.

They have also made donations to the Matilda Smith Williams home and awarded several scholarships. The Berkeley Educational Society and the Bermuda Dance Theatre have been beneficiaries of their largesse and other organisations receiving significant donations are the Packwood Home, The Family Learning Centre, Age Concern.

Said Mrs. Parker-Swan: "Uppermost in our mind is raising sufficient funds for the Intensive Care Unit. Can you think of a happier 40th birthday for the club and a greater benefit for the hospital?"