KNYSNA NEWS - Gavin Bezuidenhout is a music teacher at Oakhill School and every year he dons a black T-shirt to become a crew member at the Lions Karoo to Coast Mountain Bike Challenge, the well-known race that sees up to 3 000 riders compete from Uniondale to Knysna over the Prince Alfred's Pass, finishing at the Knysna High School sports field.
Bezuidenhout has been given life-changing assistance from the SightFirst project, an initiative run by the Lions Club International, implemented locally by the Knysna and Uniondale Lions clubs who host the Karoo to Coast challenge.
All proceeds from the event are used for SightFirst projects across the Southern Cape.
The initiative is aimed at fighting the major causes of preventable and reversible blindness by providing eye healthcare to those who cannot afford it.
Bezuidenhout has a condition called keratoconus, a progressive eye disease in which the cornea thins and begins to bulge into a cone-like shape, causing light as it enters the eye to be deflected and creating distorted vision. For the teacher, who wears contact lenses to correct his eyesight, this also meant his eyes would become red and painful within a few hours of wearing the lenses.
At one point, Bezuidenhout thought he might have to have a cornea transplant, but with the recent intervention – which involved consulting an ophthalmologist in George and the prescription of special contact lenses – Bezuidenhout's life has been transformed without surgery, for now.
Lindsey Concer (left) and Jackie Quail (right) from the SA Guide-Dogs Association accept a donation from Sue Fitzpatrick of the Knysna Lions CLub. With them are the pooches Tommy and Impi. Photo: Maryann Shaw
Olwen Toms from Knysna Lions Club explained how the SightFirst projects work locally: "With additional assistance from some very generous medical service providers, we supply an average of 340 pairs of spectacles every year. To date, 5 009 cataract operations have been sponsored and 28 corneal grafts have been done, among other interventions."
Zandile Meneses, race organiser of the Karoo to Coast and the Dr Evil Classic, said she is excited for Bezuidenhout and grateful to the Lions: "We have seen how life-changing the SightFirst interventions can be. Gavin struggled hugely with painful red eyes and this year he is like a new person."
The Lions Club also supports the SA Guide-Dogs Association and were able to hand over a cheque of R100 000 to the association's team at the event finish in Knysna.
"They will be using the funds to raise and train a guide dog, Elva, who is currently a 14-week-old puppy," said Toms.
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