$1,000,000 MILESTONE!!
It has been an
absolute privilege and joy for Lions
International [through the Australian Lions
Children’s Mobility Foundation] to be
partnered with Novita in providing the
funding for children in South Australia and
the Northern Territory to reach their own
unique mobility potential.
Our partnership began
in 1999 and the first fittings occurred here
in February 2000.
Since then our
relationship has grown as, through our
various meetings, we discover more
beneficial methods of achieving the very
best outcome for the focus of our work, the
children and their families.
One idea that is
working very well is the provision for
returned and not-yet-assigned walkers to be
used in what have become some 8 Walker
Clinics each year. These allow a child not
only to test a walker on the day but very
often take it home for a short period to
trial it in their own environment. This
better ensures the very best decision being
made for the child’s future mobility needs.
The raising of funds
to facilitate this end has seen many
innovative ideas achieve the desired
results.
Lions Australia-wide
are funding the ‘Lions share’ of much needed
mobility devices. No other organisation is
involved. That is something to be proud of
and incidently, the funding Nationally now
stands at over $8,000,000, which is an
amazing total.
Figures here in South
Australia to June 30th 2010
showed that one of our Districts has
completed the very best year for
sponsorships since such records began. The
amount raised to ensure an improved quality
of life for another 21 children [and their
families] for 2009/2010 was just over
$69,000.
There have been the
ever present BBQ’s, Quiz Nights and other
tried and true functions, along with the
more unusual but equally effective
fundraisers such as...
The Lions Lady who
began collecting cans and bottles in 2004.
She is now a Lion and has raised some
$14,000 to supply 13 mobility devices.
Walking the Sydney ½
Marathon. It is hoped that this can be
expanded.
The National Walk For
An Aussie Kid Launch held annually and when
held at Fremont Park one year raised much
needed funds. The council even widened paths
for our wheelchair wonders!
Our 140+ clubs commit
themselves to many community, State,
National and International projects, and the
ALCMF is immensely grateful for the
compassion and generosity of our Lions,
Lioness’s, Leo’s and wider Lions family for
meeting the special needs of the children
who are the Foundation’s focus.
1,000,000 thank you’s
to the ‘ordinary’ members who, through their
sheer hard work and dedication, achieve
extraordinary heights, as do our ‘Walker
Wonder’s’ who through that hard work get to
stand for the very first time!!
MY THANK
YOU TO NOVITA
FOR THEIR
RECOGNITION OF LIONS ON 20TH JULY
2011
Our C1
District Governor couldn’t be with us today
but asked me to convey her assurances that
as in the past, District C1 will continue to
do their very best in supporting the
children in need by assisting with funding
for walkers whenever possible. And she
congratulates Novita on the fabulous work
they do and wishes them, and all of their
clients, well for the future.
The Lions
family enjoys many projects, with Mobility
being one of them, and in South Australia,
we have been in partnership with Novita for
11 years now.
Nationally,
we have provided 1500 devices [+ 3 added by
SA since Friday] at a cost of nearly 8½
million dollars.
In SA we have
sponsored just over 400 pieces of equipment
and we reached the $1,000,000 [now +
$150,000] milestone in mid 2010.
This special
morning is a Nationwide first. No other
State agent has sought to personally thank
those ‘at the coalface’ raising the
necessary dollars that can improve the
quality of life of some very special young
people.
Please...let’s show our appreciation in the
usual way.
Nationally
we have 7% of the birthrate
10% of the
population
16% of the $’s
raised
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