Lions are recognized worldwide for their service to the blind and visually impaired. This service began when Helen Keller challenged the Lions to become "knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness" during the association's 1925 international convention.
Today, in addition to their international SightFirst program, Lions extend their commitment to sight conservation through countless local efforts.
Lions are also involved in a variety of other activities to improve their communities and help people in need, such as assisting the hearing impaired, providing diabetes awareness and education materials, working on environmental projects and developing youth programs.
JOURNEY FOR SIGHT
The Journey for Sight program began after the 1982 Lions Clubs International Convention as the Journey to Sight. It was an idea created by Lions Clubs International designed to enable Lions Clubs and Districts to raise funds for sight related activities and increase Club and District visibility and reputation in their communities.
Massachusetts Lions Eye Research Fund, Inc. adopted “Journey to Sight” shortly after the 1982 International Convention and later changed the name to Journey for Sight. The first Journey for Sight Weekend was held in May of 1983. The initial idea was for all Clubs to hold a Journey for Sight project on the same weekend of May each year. The purpose of this project was to generate additional funds for MLERF over and above a Lions Club’s usual annual donation. The goal was that the money generated by the existing five Lions Districts in the State of Massachusetts would be the equivalent of a sixth (6th) District.
Today, Journey For Sight projects occur all year long throughout Lions Clubs in towns across the entire state of Massachusetts. The Lexington Lions donate all the proceeds from the annual Patriots Day Road Race to the Journey for Sight.
Click here for more information from Lions Club International
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