Ever since Helen Keller invited Lions Clubs to become ‘knights of the blind’ in 1925, Lions Club International has campaigned to help those with sight loss.
For the last 30 years the second Thursday in October has been designated ‘Lions World Sight Day’. On or around that day, Lions Clubs globally hold events and activities to draw attention to the plight of sight loss in the developing countries of the Third World.
After the walk, the Mayor said it was a strange, new experience and she felt very vulnerable as she was not in control. When drinking her coffee, she found the hardest part was putting down her cup in the saucer.
“It was a fascinating experience and made me realise the challenges that people face every day. Everyone was very good and helpful to me. Again it shows how we need to work hard to make Tenby as accessible as possible for people that live here and those that visit.”
90 per cent of people with sight loss live in low income countries. 80 per cent of visual impairment can be prevented or treated and restored. By organising events and activities around World Sight Day, it is hope that the public will be encouraged to support blindness and visual impairment.
For the last few years, Tenby and District Lions have been collecting used spectacles by placing suitably labelled bins in opticians and other places. The donated spectacles are boxed and sent to Medico in France, where they are refurbished and sent to countries in South East Asia, Africa, India and China, to help improve and restore the sight of those suffering from visual impairment.
People can donate their used spectacles at Optics the optician in Greenhill Road, Tenby; Saundersfoot and Kilgetty surgeries, the Welsh Gift Shop in Upper Frog Street, Tenby; Tenby Post Office and Stores; Tenby Market; Manorbier Church; and the village halls in Kilgetty, Penally and Jameston. Maggs Optics, Haverfordwest has also volunteered to collect used spectacles. If any other business would like to help improve the sight of those living in developing countries by having a collecting bin, please contact the Tenby and District Lions president, Nick Stapleton. Tel. 07922 056352.
WHEELCHAIR FRIENDLY
Mayor Sam added: “Tenby and Saundersfoot Lions have been supporting the Tenby Town Council ‘Accessible Tenby Initiative’ and along with a number of other organisations provided funding for beach wheelchairs and new picnic benches that were friendly for people using wheelchairs.”