Lions Worldwide Sight Campaign

Allan John Bruce Named a Leader in Lions Worldwide Sight Campaign

Tuakau, New Zealand (10 May 2005) – Allan John Bruce of Tuakau, New Zealand, has been named to one of the top 60 leadership positions in Lions Clubs International’s worldwide US$150 million fundraising campaign to combat blindness. The campaign will expand and enhance Lions’ SightFirst programme which has saved more than 24 million people from severe vision loss since its launch in 1990.

As a National/Multi-National Co-ordinator of Campaign SightFirst 11, he will organise 462
Lions Clubs in New Zealand and the South Pacific and help them conduct fundraising at the local level. Bruce, a past district governor of Lions Clubs International, recently travelled to Sydney, Australia, to consult with top Lions leaders including Tae-Sup Lee, a past president of the international association, who is chairperson of the campaign.

Lions have long been champions of the blind but SightFirst has taken their sight work to a new level. Funded with US$143 million raised by Lions 1991-94, it was the first
co-ordinated, worldwide effort of its kind and moved Lions to the forefront in the international effort to eliminate avoidable blindness. Its projects have provided free cataract surgery to 4.6 million people, 65 million yearly treatments for blindness caused by infectious diseases, and eye care training for 68,500 health workers in developing countries.

The US$150 million raised through Campaign SightFirst II will continue SightFirst’s work and expand its scope to combat emerging threats to sight, including glaucoma and diabetic eye disease.

“Lions are committed to preserving vision for all and will not allow the world’s blind population to grow from 37 to 78 million as predicted by the World Health Organisation,” said
Past International President Lee. “I have the utmost confidence that Past District Governor Bruce will lead the Lions of New Zealand and the South Pacific to success in this important effort.”

Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organisation with nearly 1.4 million members in 46,000 clubs in 193 countries and geographic areas. In addition to its efforts toward conquering blindness, the organisation has made a strong commitment to community service and helping youth throughout the world. To learn more about the SightFirst programme, visit the Lions Clubs International Foundation Website at www.lcif.org.

ENDS

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