Lions don’t just serve the world. We are the world. And our diversity means that there will always be Lions ready to address the issues we face. Just like how your club is making a difference in your community, Lions everywhere are changing lives every day in all kinds of ways.
Here are three stories of how “We Serve through Diversity” around the world.
Australia
Drought Busters Raise Funds to Help the Vulnerable
In Biggenden, a small town of 800 in Queensland, Australia, Lions are reaching out in support of the Biggenden Drought Busters.
Impacted themselves by the drought that continues to cause extreme hardship, the Lions have been collecting money and goods for farmers in areas where the grass is gone, the hay to feed livestock is getting scarcer, and families are living with a dwindling supply of household and stock water.
The Biggenden Lions are a small group with a membership of 15, but together, they are making a big difference. The Lions, with Australian government federal funding, have supported their community since 1995 through the Lions Community Care Service.
“Unfortunately there is no quick fix for this, so we are in it for the long haul,” says Drought Buster Lea Treloar. “The Biggenden Lions Club is very active in this town and are extremely supportive of anyone doing something positive in the community.”
China
Reaching Across Borders to Bring Sight to a Boy
Six-year-old Erkhes was diagnosed with glaucoma in his left eye at just three months old. He underwent surgery to treat the eye five times when ultimately his optic disk was removed, rendering him blind in that eye.
He was monitored regularly, and in 2017, doctors told his parents he was beginning to show signs of change in his other eye. However, the doctors in Mongolia were not able to definitively diagnose Erkhes without more sophisticated equipment. Fearing their son would now lose vision in his right eye as well, Erkhes’ parents wrote a letter to Lions asking for help.
Lions in Hong Kong and Mongolia answered. The Beijing Lions of D385 stepped in to bring Erkhes and his family to Tongren Eye Center for evaluation and treatment. Professor Ningli Wang oversaw his care. Beijing Lions arranged for the family’s travel and lodging while in Beijing, and accompanied them, along with an interpreter, to each medical visit.
Mongolian Lions visited the family before they set off for China and have been following their care ever since, helping them with any needs at home. Although they are still working through treatment, thanks to Lions reaching across borders, a boy—and his family—now have hopes of keeping the child’s sight.
United States
It’s an easy, 12-minute drive from Len Dompke’s suburban Chicago home to the local hospital. Yet, the first time Dompke made the drive, it was one of the hardest of his life. Making this drive meant recognizing and changing some unhealthy habits, which was not going to be easy.
District 1-J Lions partnered with Edward-Elmhurst Health (EEH) to develop a diabetes prevention and lifestyle intervention program, which received a US$95,000 grant from Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF). Thanks to this incredible teamwork, Dompke has a new lease on life.
Fast forward through the yearlong program and Dompke is a stronger, healthier and 80-pound-lighter version of his former self! Best of all, with the support of Lions and grant funding from LCIF, he is no longer at risk of developing diabetes.
Visit the Campaign 100 website to learn more about how LCIF plays a major role in responding to the diabetes global epidemic through comprehensive health initiatives targeted at the communities in which we live and serve.
Read about our Global Service in LION Magazine and discover how the diversity of Lions is the key to delivering change on a global scale.
Visit the president’s theme page to learn more about how Lions are stronger when “We Serve through Diversity.”
Joan Cary is the assistant editor for LION Magazine. Erin Kasdin in the senior editor of LION Magazine.
