On April 21, 2007, the Lions of Suffolk County held a “Walk for Sight” at The Holtsville Ecology Site, 249 Buckley Rd, Holtsville. A second Walk for Sight was held at the same site on April 19, 2008. Suffolk Lions, friends and supporters joined with Lions across New York State and Bermuda in the first ever state wide effort to raise money for the elimination of preventable blindness world wide. Lions Clubs International is a network of 1.3 million men and women in 200 countries and geographic areas who work together to answer the needs that challenge communities around the world This walk was a part of the Lions world wide effort which raised over $200 million to prevent blindness and restore sight wherever possible.

Any monies collected over the initial $150 million goal has been designated for use in the United States.

Since 1990, Lions International has:

* Prevented serious vision loss for 27 million people

* Provided 80.5 million treatments for river blindness

* Awarded $193 million for 818 sight related projects in 90 countries

* Restored sight to 7 million with cataract

* Improved eye-care services for hundreds of millions

* Built or expanded 213 eye hospitals, clinics and wards

* Upgraded 325 eye centers with equipment

* Trained 305,000 ophthalmologists, ophthalmic nurses, other professional eye-care workers and village health workers

* Launched the world’s first ever initiative to combat childhood blindness in partnership with the World Health organization. Thirty pediatric eye-care centers will be established

With our population living longer, we are faced with new challenges. Cataract, a disease closely tied to aging, remains the world’s leading cause of blindness. River blindness and trachoma, which take the sight of millions, can be controlled, but increased global awareness and funding are required. Diabetes and glaucoma silently stalk the vision of millions who may not even know that they are at risk. And our youth are not free from risk. Today, more children than ever before suffer from blindness or low vision.

We would like to thank those who have generously made donations toward this campaign. It is due to so many that obtained sponsors and walked with the Lions on April 21, 2007 and April 19, 2008 that made this joint effort such a success. Although the walk has been completed, anyone wishing to make a contribution to this very worthy cause can contact us through the e-mail section of this site or at any of the phone numbers listed on the Club Pamphlet.

If you would like more information or perhaps would like to view a short PSA by Lion and President Jimmy Carter, please click on the Lions International Link and follow the links to CSFII (Campaign Sight First II)

Some of the Suffolk County Lions and volunteer walkers at the Holtsville Ecology Site

The NYS Senate presented the NYS & Bermuda Lions with a Proclamation declaring April 21, 2007 Walk for Sight Day in New York State