Harrow Colchester South Lions Club

UPDATE ON DIMES FOR DIABETES - Zone project for 2008

I LOVE BEING A LION!  Our zone project this year as you know is Dimes for Diabetes.  At the beginning of the Lion year, I asked all clubs to participate in this zone project.  Well, as always, the Lions in Zone 1 West are coming through again.

At my visitation with the Amherstburg Lions Club on January 12, 2009 the Amherstburg Lions Club presented me with a cheque in the sum of $50.00 in honour of my visitation that evening.  What a great gift!  Thank you

At our Zone meeting on January 22, 2009, the Tecumseh Lions Club presented a cheque in the sum of $1,200.00 as a result of a bingo which they held.  Great Work!

I was also presented with a cheque from Cypher Systems Group for $750.00.  This donation is a great example of Lions working together.  Lion Martha Kern of the Harrow Colchester South Lions Club and Lion Tom Sanderson of the Windsor-Downtown Lions Club work together for Cypher Systems Group.  Cyper Systems Group raises funds each year for local charities.  These two Lions from two different clubs approached their employer and requested that Dimes for Diabetes be on their charitable list.  Well, congratulations Lion Martha and Tom for a shining example of how Lions from different clubs can come together and make a difference.

I have great confidence that our zone will make this a very successful project this year!  We are heroes and this proves it. 

I’ll keep you updated.

Lion Marianne Robinson
Zone 1West Chair

The Lions of Zone 1 West located in  Windsor, Tecumseh, Amherstburg and Harrow are collecting “Dimes for Diabetes” to assist local individuals who can not afford their insulin.  All proceeds raised will remain in the Windsor-Essex community. 

Currently, the roaming jar collecting dimes is located at Tech’s R Us in Harrow. 

Please check back to this site for an update of events being held to raise funds for this worthy cause or contact Lion Marianne at zone1w@hcslions.com. 

Read on for more information on Diabetes and the Dimes for Diabetes initiative from Zone 1 West Zone Chair Lion Marianne Robinson:

We all know what the condition diabetes is.  We know that it is a condition that impedes the proper use of insulin in the body which is vital to a normal metabolism.  We also know  the complications of diabetes, such as kidney failure, heart disease, stroke and of course blindness.

Lions are known as the “knights of the blind”.  As knights of the blind we donate to causes that aid the blind.  We also donate to causes such as the eye glass program, visual screening,  leader dogs and diabetes awareness.

It is estimated that over two and a quarter million Canadians have diabetes.  Diabetes Is the 7th leading cause of death in Canada.   More than 60,000 new cases of diabetes are diagnosed in each year.  Health care costs for diabetes and its complications amount to approximately 9 billion dollars a year.

The Lions Club Project for the 2008-2009 year is DIMES FOR DIABETES.  We are asking the community to donate their dimes to this worthy cause.  All of the proceeds of this campaign will remain in the Windsor-Essex County area.  We have become aware that due to the economic times, there are residents in this area who cannot afford their insulin.

Imagine being a parent who is laid off and has a child with diabetes who needs insulin.  What decisions are those parents making.  Do they buy groceries, can they afford sports programs for the children, do they pay the mortgage, light bill, gas bill or do they buy insulin for their child?

Imagine being a father, who is laid off and has diabetes.  The decision he has to make - Should I pay the mortgage this month or should I buy my insulin?  Something tells me that sometimes the mortgage gets paid and sometimes Dad does without insulin.  What a horrible choice.

The “Dimes for Diabetes” program is a zone project which I am hoping will raise funds in order to alleviate some of the stress these people are going through.

We are asking the community and business owners as well as the local schools to allow us to put our donation jar at your place of business or in your school. 

All the funds raised through this zone project will remain in the Windsor-Essex County area.  We all have a stake in this project - We all know someone with diabetes.  We may even know someone who is laid off and struggling financially who may benefit from our zone project.