Dear Lion,
Lions, you are helping to save sight and prevent blindness, for people down the steet, but also around the world. It doesn't matter that these are people we may never meet. They need us! And Lions roll up their sleeves and respond. I would like to encourage all Lions to participate in a sight project, particularly in October, as we focus on sight.
Just last week I attended the Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia Regional Games in Warsaw, Poland. There, we celebrated the 10th year of our Opening Eyes partnership with Special Olympics. At this event we screened the 200,000 athlete. Isn't this an impressive accomplishment in such a short time? This partnership is giving hope-hope for a brighter tomorrow and hope that these athletes will run faster, jump higher and throw farther.
At this event I took great pride in fitting a pair of glasses onto the smiling face of Tomasz, a badminton player from Poland. All of us experience what we call "the touching moments in life." You know what I mean. For me, one of these moments was to give these glasses to Tomasz. Due to the tremendous cooperation of Lions Clubs International and Opening Eyes, Tomasz's new glasses helped him score gold in Doubles Badminton and a silver in Singles Badminton.
October is also Lions World Sight Day, an opportunity to celebrate our many accomplishments through our SightFirst program. We've restored sight to 7.6 million people through cataract surgeries. Every one of these individuals has an improved quality of life, thanks to you. But we aren't content to stop there, are we? We must ensure their children and grandchildren will also have improved vision and the chance at a better life.
Lions, I ask you to join me in making a commitment to continue, and expand, our efforts to save sight.
With my cordial regards,
Eberhard J. Wirfs Chairperson LCIF
