HEALTH - Lions Clubs Australia

Lions Healthcare Heroes

January 18, 2022/in DONATIONS, HEALTH, NEWS, OUR STORIES /by Jemma

For the past two years, our nurses and frontline healthcare workers have been under the pump.

Soaring COVID-19 cases as a result of the spread of the Omicron variant has put immense pressure on the healthcare system.

An online fundraiser launched by Lions volunteers is giving the community an opportunity to say thank you to their COVID Healthcare Heroes.

The Coogee Lions Club’s Healthcare Heroes GoFundme page has now raised over $5,000 to help recognise the hard work of frontline staff working tirelessly in COVID-19 Red Zones.

Recognised nurses are presented with a Lions Healthcare Heroes certificate of thanks and a $50 shopping voucher.

Coogee Lions Club Co-President Sari-Elle Kraemer says the project is encouraging the community to get behind the fundraiser and show healthcare workers how much they are appreciated at this difficult time.

“Healthcare staff have been working under extreme conditions now for many months.”

“Many are working under extreme conditions right now with longer and more frequent shifts in physically challenging environments, having to perform their role in double layered personal protective equipment and not to mention endure the stress and trauma of increasing case numbers. We wanted to show them how much they are appreciated.”

“We encourage the community to help us through making a donation or helping spread the word. The more funds raised the more hardworking Healthcare Heroes we can recognise.”

For more information on how you can help thank our COVID-19 Healthcare Heroes, click here.

Every dollar raised will go to the Healthcare Heroes.

Deborah Hutton Lions Ambassador for Skin Cancer Screening

Lions appoints Deborah Hutton as Ambassador for Skin Cancer Screening Program

December 16, 2021/in HEALTH, NEWS, OUR STORIES /by Jemma

Lions Australia have appointed Deborah Hutton as their first ever ambassador to advocate for their skin cancer screening and detection programs.

The media personality praised Lions after sharing a moving account of her own skin cancer battle at the 2021 Lions Convention in Canberra, singling out their mobile screening vans in Western and South Australia.

“These projects are vital in waking up Australians to the dangers of skin cancer,” says Deborah. “It’s critically important to get your skin checked, not only for yourself but for your loved ones.”

At the Canberra Convention, Deborah set a new challenge for Lions in New South Wales and Queensland to step up their fundraising efforts for their own skin cancer screening vans.

“Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world,” she said. “I’m calling on Lions to do more to reduce that level and its impact on families in two of our most pertinent states for skin cancer”.

Deborah Hutton Lions Canberra Convention

Deborah Hutton speaks at the 2021 Lions Canberra Convention

The incorporated charity, the Lions V Districts Cancer Foundation, launched its mobile skin check van in March 2021.

With over $400,000 raised through the generosity of Lions Clubs and philanthropic donors, the van is now offering free skin check services, especially to those in rural and remote areas with limited access to specialist skin care professionals.

“These guys are amazing,” Deborah told her social media followers after inspecting the new V-Districts van on show at the convention.

As it tours around, the unit will be a valuable resource for local people to access not only the skin check, but timely information about skin care and self-checking techniques.

“The fear is not finding something,” Deborah explains. “The fear is that if you have something you can’t detect and you leave it, you’re not going to be around to tell your story – and that’s scary.”

As their first ambassador, Lions is excited for Deborah to lend her voice in raising awareness about the importance of skin checks and early detection through their skin cancer screening programs.

You can find out more about the program here.

Lions volunteers say thank you to our COVID Healthcare Heroes

September 1, 2021/in HEALTH, HUMANITARIAN, NEWS /by Rob Oerlermans

Frontline health staff are working under extreme conditions right now, but local Lions volunteers are on a mission to recognise our COVID-19 Healthcare Heroes and they’re asking for the community’s help!

Coogee Lions Club volunteers are working closely with Prince of Wales Hospital to recognise and reward nurses in the COVID ward on a weekly basis.

Healthcare Heroes will be acknowledged for their hard work and will each be presented with a special certificate of thanks and a $50 shopping voucher.

Coogee Lions Club Co-President Sari-Elle Kraemer says the project is a wonderful way for the community to come together and show healthcare workers how much they are appreciated at this difficult time.

“Lions are local volunteers passionate about doing what we can to help others and make a difference in the community. Right now, we’re on a mission to recognise the hardworking frontline healthcare workers who are going above and beyond to look after the community during COVID-19.”

“Many are working longer and more frequent shifts in physically challenging environments, having to perform their role in double layered Personal Protective Equipment and endure the stress and trauma of increasing case numbers.”

“We know there are many others like us who would like to say thank you, so we invite the community to help us. We’ve set up a Gofund me page and each week we would love to give our Healthcare Heroes a $50 shopping voucher or gift to show our appreciation for their incredible work. We encourage the community to jump online and make a donation. The more funds we receive the more Healthcare Heroes we can thank.”

For more information on how you can help thank our COVID-19 Healthcare Heroes visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/coogee-lions-healthcare-heroes

Every dollar raised will go to the Healthcare Heroes.

COVID EMERGENCY – Indonesia & Sri Lanka! How you can help through LCIF.

August 12, 2021/in HEALTH, HUMANITARIAN, NEWS /by admin

HELP our Lions in Indonesia during the pandemic

Although we are all challenged during this pandemic, we are aware of the very dire straits being faced by our colleagues in Indonesia and Sri Lanka. In Indonesia today there were almost 40,000 new cases with over half a million active cases. Our Lions Clubs in Indonesia and Sri Lanka are doing the best they can to support their communities but they need our help.

Lions Clubs International Foundation has made available a special process to enable clubs to dedicate donations to assist Indonesia and Sri Lanka during this emergency, in the same way that Disaster Grants operate. In order to ensure that your donation goes to assist Lions in these countries, please follow this special process.

1. Make your donation to LCIF through your Cabinet Treasurer. (Donations to the Lions Australia Fund for LCIF do not apply)
2. Advise your Cabinet Treasurer AND your District LCIF Coordinator that the donation is specifically to assist Indonesia or Sri Lanka during the COVID crisis.

These specific donations will be eligible for Campaign 100, Melvin Jones Fellowship and Lions Share recognition. Don’t forget that a donation of US$1,000 can also be used to acknowledge one of your own members through the LCIF 201 Heroes for LCIF campaign.

LCIF will reserve the funds for Lions in these countries who can apply for matching grants to purchase medical equipment, personal protective equipment and other support.

That’s all you need to do and if you need guidance, your District LCIF Coordinator is always happy to help you. You will find them on page 14 of your Lions directory!

Yarrawonga Lions sew over 40,000 turbans for cancer patients

July 28, 2021/in HEALTH, NEWS, OUR STORIES /by admin

The Yarrawonga Lions Club in Victoria meet every Tuesday to sew, pack and dispatch turbans for cancer patients who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy.

Since the Club began the project in 2015, they have made over 40,000 turbans which have been distributed to oncology units all over Australia, and some overseas.

The project was founded by Club member, Debbie Van Corler, a cancer survivor herself. The club affectionately refers to Debbie as the ‘Turban Mum’.

Club President Joan Tufvesson says “The group is dedicated and set a very high standard as the recipients, who are going through a dark stage of their lives, deserve the best. Although their task has a serious element to it, this is not reflected in the ambiance of the room on Tuesdays, where there is lots of laughter and witty banter that makes the day a joy for all that attend.”

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Turban Angels have utilised their sewing skills to make face masks as another fundraising means for the turban project.

Find out more about the Made With Love Free Chemotherapy Turbans.

Lions club project – ‘Elsie’s Retreat’ – brings first ever palliative care unit to Gosford

July 27, 2021/in HEALTH, NEWS /by admin

The NSW Central Coast has its first dedicated in-patient palliative care unit, thanks to the dedicated members of The Lions Club of Wyoming East Gosford Centennial.

Having identified the need for a dedicated palliative care unit almost 12 years ago, the Elsie’s Project began when much-loved Central Coast resident, Elsie Green, was diagnosed with breast cancer. At just 51 years of age, Elsie was not able to secure a hospice bed and sadly lost her battle with cancer while living in a nursing home. Elsie was passionate about the need for a dedicated palliative care unit, and her friends at the Lions Club promised they would do their best to make it happen.

The club spent eight years campaigning, fundraising and rallying support from the community before the NSW government finally allocated a space to make their dream a reality – the former maternity ward at Gosford Hospital.

As well as their own fundraising and community donations of approximately $300,000, the club received a $130,000 grant from the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF).

The unit officially opened in April 2021, with 10 patient beds (with the ability to expand to 14), sofa beds for family/carers, two large family rooms, a lounge area with kitchenette facilities, a children’s area and an outdoor deck. Eslie’s Retreat was opened by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and local MP Adam Crouch.

Lions clubs help raise $4 million for childhood cancer research

July 26, 2021/in DONATIONS, HEALTH, NEWS /by admin

A four-year partnership between the Australian Lions Childhood Cancer Research Foundation (ALCCRF) and the Garvan Institute has meant that children with high-risk cancers have received more tailored therapies based on the DNA sequencing of their individual tumors.

The Lions Kids Cancer Genome Project joined the Zero Childhood Cancer Project in 2016, but the ability to sequence the cancer genome of hundreds of children required significant investment.

The need was met by the commitment and passion of the Lions Club International Foundation, the Australian Lions Childhood Cancer Research Foundation and Lions Clubs around Australia – raising $4 million in total.

Lions set out with an ambitious goal of sequencing the genome of tumour samples from 400 children and was spearheaded by Prof Dziadek and Prof David Thomas, Head of the Genomic Cancer Medicine Lab at the Garvan Institute and Director of The Kinghorn Cancer Centre.

Through global and local fundraising, including a grass-roots drive that appealed to Australians to collect spare change to support the pioneering cancer research, Lions raised a significant $4 million for the Lions Kids Cancer Genome Project. This crucial investment made it possible to sequence the 400 tumour samples, completing a major milestone in 2020.

Dr Joe Collins, Chairman of the Lions Kids Cancer Genome Project, says: “We are thrilled to have invested in this visionary project. To see it make such a difference for kids that have no options left is truly remarkable. The legacy that this project has left is that we’ve not only saved a number of children, we’ve helped establish a database that is going to help kids all over the world. Without Lion’s ’funding, this project may not have happened.”

Oatley Lions Donate $30,000 to purchase neo-natal care unit at St George Hospital

July 14, 2021/in DONATIONS, HEALTH, HUMANITARIAN, NEWS /by admin

Oatley Lions Club and the Australian Lions Foundation have donated $30,000 towards the purchase of a neo-natal bed for the local St George Hospital Special Care Nursery.

Money was raised through community support of the annual Oatley Lions Village Festival, a $5000 donation by the club’s major sponsor, Oatley Hotel, and the Australian Lions Foundation.

“St George Hospital is so important to our local community and we are incredibly proud to work with Oatley Lions to help care for newborn babies. Oatley Lions are good people doing good work and their fundraising always goes towards the benefit of our community,” said Oatley Hotel owner and licensee Lyn Humphreys.

The new unit will enable continued treatment and care of many newborn babies.

Lions mobile skin check and awareness unit aims to reduce prevalence of skin cancer

July 14, 2021/in HEALTH, NEWS /by admin

Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, but Lions Clubs in Victoria and Southern NSW are doing their bit to reduce that level and its impact on families.

The incorporated charity, the Lions V Districts Cancer Foundation, launched its mobile skin check van in March 2021.

With over $400,000 raise through the generosity of Lions Clubs and philanthropic donors, the van is now offering free skin check services, especially to those in rural and remote areas with limited access to specialist skin care professionals.

The van is operated by fully trained, certified and professionally supervised volunteers. As it tours around, the unit will be a valuable resource for local people to access not only the skin check, but timely information about skin care and self-checking techniques.

Each Skin Check Unit visit is hosted by the local Lions Club, and full-body skin checks are conducted for the people booked. Fully trained dermoscopists, who operate hand-held microscopes to check over the skin, identify any suspect lesions and refer people on to doctors if any are found.

The van made a special appearance at the recent Lions Australia Convention in Canberra, and was toured by media personality and skin cancer advocate, Deborah Hutton.

Click for more information.

Lions caring for kids in quarantine

July 14, 2021/in HEALTH, HUMANITARIAN, NEWS /by admin

COVID-19 may have changed the way volunteers meet and fundraise in the community but one thing that hasn’t changed is the resilience and determination of volunteers.

The community spirit of West Australian Lions volunteers has been brightening up the days for children in hotel quarantine.

Lions Clubs in Western Australia were contacted by the Department of Communities in 2020, regarding concerns around the health and wellbeing of children in quarantine.

Lions volunteers across the state quickly swung into action and raised funds to supply packages of books, puzzles and games tailored to different age groups.

Hundreds of care packages have been delivered to children in quarantine by Lions Clubs in Western Australia.

Several families have contacted the Lions project team to express their thanks and provide comment on the support they have received.

Matthew Morgan and his family decided to move back to Perth after living in Texas for the last 10 years. Children Amelia (8), Jakub (5) and Isabel (3), although excited to celebrate Christmas in Australia, had found it difficult passing the time in their hotel. A couple of days into their isolation there was a knock on the door and Matt was delighted to see three activity packages. The children were ecstatic with their new-found fun, as were the parents.

“We received three amazing packages of toys and books for my kids! They were so excited, and I’m so grateful. I really appreciate the effort taken to put these together and bring them to us, and I’m also really heartened to know that there are people out there who are thinking of us – even if we haven’t met yet!” said Matt.

Mother Martina Ricciardi is isolating with her two-year old son Benjamin and was also very grateful for the surprise gift at her door.

“I feel that the language makes it difficult for me to express how grateful I am for everything you do for the well-being of me and my son. Benjamin woke up today with a big smile and still did not discover the blocks or the bubbles! We have so many things to play and have fun with thanks to everyone who donated,” she said.

The project concept has been promoted to Lions Districts in other States around Australia.