St George Lions Club’s Annual Charity Golf Day, with support from Club Rivers Riverwood, raised $12,000 this month to support three Lions Projects.
The projects are local and state, national and international in their focus showing the breadth of Lions projects, St George Lions president, John Craig said.
The proceeds of the charity golf day, held at Beverley Park Golf Course on April 11, saw St George Lions donate $4,000 to the Big Red Kidney Bus project, $4000 to the Lions Kids Cancer Genome Project, and $4000 to the Operation Smile project.
“The project with a local and state focus is the purchase of another Big Red Kidney Bus for NSW, costing $200,000, to assist country-based patients who need dialysis, particularly while they are on holiday,” Mr Craig said.
“Those living furthest from the coast will have most to gain from the Big Red Kidney Bus as they have a much harder job to get a beach or coastal holiday.”
Lions Kids Cancer Genome Project is the project with a national and international focus.
“Lions have committed A$4million to fund the whole genome sequencing of 400 children with high risk cancers in Australia over three years,” Mr Craig said.
“This is a joint initiative with the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, the Lions Clubs International Foundation and the Australian Lions Childhood Cancer Research Foundation.
“The Genome Project is the sequencing, analysis and the creation of a genetic database which can be used by researchers and doctors worldwide. It could help kids and adults everywhere have a better chance of more specific and effective treatment.
“Lions Operation Smile – a smile changes everything, is an international project.
“It provides reconstructive surgery to children and young adults born with facial deformities, such as a cleft lip or palate, in developing countries such as Papua-New Guinea.
“Every three minutes a child is born somewhere in the world with facial deformities. This problem affects more children each year than all childhood cancers combined.
“Operation Smile Australia coordinates medical missions where credentialed medical volunteers travel to countries throughout Asia to provide free surgery while creating sustainable change for children, families, and communities.”
Mr Craig said St George Lions has had wonderful support from community clubs, businesses and people in our community to make the charity golf day so successful.
“One of the attractions of Lions Projects is that there are no handling fees,” Mr Craig said.
“In other words, every dollar donated goes directly to the charity, and has a bigger impact.
“In fact, Lions Club members all pay membership fees, which fund the administration of these projects. This is not always so, with other charities.”
Anyone interested in becoming a part of these community projects by becoming a member of St George Lions then go to St George Lions Facebook page: https://m.facebook.com/Lions-Club-of-St-George-Inc-202628643269845/?ref=bookmarks
