KNYSNA NEWS - In celebration of World Sight Day on 8 October, the Knysna Lions Club, by virtue of its SightFirst programme, has secured funding through the Karoo to Coast Mountain Bike Challenge to conduct seven urgent cataract operations.
With 46 000 clubs and over 1.35-million members, the Lions are the world’s largest service club organisation. Members aim to help their local communities with projects that benefit those in need.
Helen Keller challenged the Lions to become “Knights of the Blind” and since 1990, SightFirst funds have enabled the Lions, healthcare providers and partner organisations around the world to fight the major causes of preventable loss of vision.
Thursday 8 October is World Sight Day and to celebrate this, the Lions of Knysna have arranged for seven urgent cataract operations to be performed at the Knysna Provincial Hospital. The CCPP Group Lions Karoo to Coast Mountain Bike Challenge, that is owned by the Lions of Uniondale and Knysna, has funded these operations, through entry-fee income from the 2019 event.
Since the event’s inception in 1999, an impressive 5 293 cataract operations have been sponsored in order to help people who cannot afford the gift of sight.
The Lions of Knysna’s SightFirst amabassador, Olwen Toms, who established and drives this initiative locally, said: “I am passionate about people being able to see. It is a travesty when a person loses their ability to live an independent life, or to see their loved ones.
"Cataract surgery is a very joyful procedure as it restores sight instantly.” Olwen extended her gratitude to Dr Stemples and the theatre sisters who will perform the seven cataract operations.
The CCPP Group Lions Karoo to Coast will take place again on the 26 September 2021 and entries are streaming in. The proceeds from this event also support the SA Guide Dog Association and the training of over sixty puppies has been paid for by the proceeds from the event.
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