WHAT K2C HAS DONE AND WILL DO FOR SIGHT - THANKS TO THE RIDERS!

Where do proceeds from the Lions Karoo to Coast Mountain Bike Challenge go to?

Updated: March 2023

 

HELPING THE BLIND TO SEE

HELEN KELLER challenged the LIONS to become KNIGHTS of the BLIND, and YOU have helped Knysna and Uniondale to achieve this status by supporting the Karoo to Coast!

 

CATARACT OPS

5824 cataract operations in the Southern Cape paid for by K2C funds.

5824 PEOPLE CAN SEE THANKS TO KAROO TO COAST and the CATARACT OPERATIONS we have sponsored. These people come from the whole Southern Cape area: Riversdale to Plett and as far as Uniondale

 

GUIDE DOGS

66 guide dogs (puppies) donated through S A Guide Dog Association

We have sponsored the training of EIGHT guide dogs from inception, Johnny was at the Karoo to Coast this year.

Jackie was present with the Guide Dogs and she will be delighted to tell you more about the dogs and their service to the blind.

 

CORNEA GRAFTS

We have sponsored 20 cornea replacements so far, and we have urgent need of suitable corneas for many patients whose only hope to see is this expensive procedure

 

When corneas fail, the person WILL GO TOTALLY BLIND

There is no other way to correct or improve the patient’s sight without replacing the cornea SO THIS IS A DRAMATIC NEED

 

LIONS ARE EVER GRATEFUL FOR THE DEDICATION OF OPTOMETRISTS AND OPHTHALMOLOGISTS WHO DO THIS WORK FOR US THE LIONS AND ALL THE PEOPLE WE ASSIST

 

CONGENITAL DEFECTS

Over the last few years we have sponsored 2 operations for people born with defective vision and 39 children with squints.  These people had their vision and their confidence restored!

 

BIO EYE for a girl who had lost her eye as a 3 or 4 year old, and is now 14 years old. It is a joy to see how happy and confident she has become

 

SPECTACLES SUPPLIED

Knysna and Uniondale Lions supply on average 300 pairs of spectacles every year, through the OPERATION BRIGHTSIGHT division of Lions.

We thank the Optometrists who give so generously and regularly of their time and expertise for those who cannot afford regular eye care

 

NEW CHALLENGE

We are working on supplying FREE spectacles to 100 school children in the Knysna area

 

DETACHED RETINAS AND MACULAR HOLES

We have come to the aid of a people whose retinas become detached or have had Macular problems. This is a fairly rare request, and we sponsor this at the behest of the Ophthalmologist concerned. We have sponsored 5 such operations

 

FOOD TO THE HUNGRY

During the dramatic COVID lockdown, we supplied food to an average of 74 people per day, as we were unable to run our eye clinic

 

THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR RIDNG AND SUPPORTING THIS EFFORT!

A HISTORY OF THE LIONS CLUB

THE WORLD’S LARGEST SERVICE CLUB ORGANIZATION

With 46,000 clubs and 1.35 million members – the Lions are the world’s largest service club organisation. They are also one of the most effective. Members aim to help their local communities with projects that benefit those in need.
In 1917, Melvin Jones, a 38-year-old Chicago business leader, told members of his local business club they should reach beyond business issues and address the betterment of their communities and the world.

After contacting similar groups around the United States, an organisational meeting was held on June 7, 1917, in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The new group took the name of one of the invited groups, the “Association of Lions Clubs,” and a national convention was held in Dallas, Texas, USA in October of that year. A constitution, by-laws, objects and a code of ethics were approved.

Within three years, Lions became an international organisation. Since then, they have earned recognition for both integrity and transparency. The Lions are a well-run organisation with a steady vision, a clear mission, and a long – and proud – history.