A warmer-than-usual, but still chilly, Wednesday morning saw 30 riders pack up their snowmobiles and head south for the annual Lions Club Journey for Sight.
Lion Andy Wasylciw, the lone Flin Flon rider, represented the North in the fight to raise money and awareness for the Lions Eye Bank.
This marks the 30th year for the Journey for Sight with nearly $2 million raised throughout Manitoba alone during that time.
Flin Flon has been a stop for the past dozen years with Wasylciw participating each year.
Once the riders left Flin Flon, they continued to Cranberry Portage, The Pas and other stops en route to Brandon tomorrow afternoon.
The riders leaving from Flin Flon met with riders from Thompson. The group then proceeded south together, expecting to meet another 20 riders from southern Manitoba.
Each rider is required to raise $2,000 for the Lions Eye Bank. On average, the Journey for Sight collects $100,000 a year.
With 2015 marking the 30th year for the Journey for Sight, riders strived to reach the $2-million mark this year, needing roughly $40,000 to match that goal.
“They do so much,” said Elly Prendergast of the Lions Eye Bank. “Many of those riders or support crew [have] been with the Journey for Sight since the beginning. It’s all about their dedication and their believing. They do this all for the Eye Bank.”
In 30 years of collecting pledges and donations, the Journey for Sight has been able to help more than 8,000 Manitobans in need of eye surgeries, treatments and equipment.
“The funds sure go a long way to the effort that we put forth to the community,” said Prendergast.
The Lions Eye Bank, based out of the Miseri-cordia Health Centre in Winnipeg, helps patients with vision-related problems.
Prendergast says 100 per cent of funds raised go to people who need help.
“The funding is strictly for medical assistance, and it goes right to the individual or the hospital in need,” she said. “All the money raised goes right to the source. It’s pretty remarkable.”
The Journey for Sight makes 72 stops from beginning to end as Lions clubs across the province are visited and often joined by riders.
“Throughout Manitoba, each club is supportive,” said Prendergast. “It’s a great network of people all working together towards the same cause. We try to leave no stone unturned.”
