Lions Clubs Awareness Week

Lions Clubs exist to serve anyone and everyone in the community in times of need. Lions are ‘ordinary’ men and women who volunteer their time to humanitarian causes in their local and global communities. Lions are central and vital to their local communities. It is the hands on role in improving local people’s quality of life that really encapsulates the spirit of the Lion.

Across the British Isles and Ireland, Lions Clubs work in partnership with and support a wide range of organisations active in the community including Diabetes UK, Diabetes Federation of Ireland, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, International Glaucoma Association, MedicAlert, Sight Savers International and TACADE (Teachers Advisory Council for Alcohol and Drug Education). Clubs all across the British Isles and Ireland support young people by recognising their efforts and providing them with opportunities to learn achieve and grow.

An integral part of Lions Awareness week will be Lions World Sight Day. Ever since 1925 when they were challenged by Helen Keller to become ‘knights of the blind’ members of Lions Clubs International have upheld an unmatched involvement in working for causes associated with blind and sight impaired people throughout the World.

In the 90 years since Helen Keller's challenge Lions can claim many successes in sight related initiatives including the introduction of the white cane for blind people. In the last two years Lions Worldwide has raised over $200,329,000 in their quest to eradicate unnecessary blindness globally.$2,149,144.74 was raised in the British Isles and Ireland.

As a part of their commitment to sight related causes Lions World Sight Day has been held annually since in 1998 to highlight the importance of eradicating preventable blindness and improving sight. An increasing number of Lions clubs are using this occasion to collect eyeglasses, conduct vision and diabetes screenings and plan educational programmes to inform their communities about the importance of sight and diseases such as diabetes that can impact sight.

Around the World Lions are recognised for their achievements and in 2007 a Financial Times survey identified Lions Clubs International as being the best Non Governmental Organisation with which companies and corporations preferred to work. This is due to a vast global network of Clubs and an ethic which ensures that every penny donated for charitable and humanitarian purposes is efficiently used to provide maximum benefit.