Monday 19th November 2012
One good turn deserves another
An 87-year-old act of support is reciprocated.
In 1925 deaf and blind suffragette Helen Keller challenged the Lions of America to become “knights of the blind” and
appealed for them to “crusade against darkness”. A few years later Lions introduced the white cane and since that time
have embarked on a worldwide mission to alleviate blindness where possible. The results are impressive including, saving
the sight of more than 15 million children by providing eye screenings, glasses and other treatments through Sight for Kids and vaccinating 41 million children in Africa against measles – a
leading cause of childhood blindness.
Last Tuesday, here in New Zealand, 87 years on, the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind reciprocated the support
to Lions Clubs campaign Heads Up for Kids, an old money and foreign currency collection, which turns the unwanted cash
into legal tender and uses it to fund various education programmes for New Zealand’s youth.
RNZFB Dunedin’s Sally Brown gave a donation of old NZ and foreign coins gathered from previous appeals to Heads Up for
Kids via Dunedin Lion PDG Les Box.
“It is a case of a worthy cause supporting another, ” said Mr Box.
The old money and foreign currency is processed by Lions Clubs NZ and redeemed for legal tender, the funds are then used
to fund education for Kiwi kids.
Donations of old money and foreign currency can be taken to any Resene Colorshop or call 0800 OLD MONEY for a Lions Club
member to arrange a collection time.