LION RAISES AWARENESS FOR GUIDE DOGS

The club usually contribute towards training of one guide dog every year.

The Wild Lions Club of Johannesburg has put its best foot forward to support the furry animals on the frontline.

Club president Mark Meltzer took on the South African Guide-Dogs Association for the Blind’s 101km Pedal for Paws virtual cycle challenge. The cycle challenge ran from 24 August to 7 September.

Participants had the option of taking their bikes to the streets or using indoor stationary bikes to complete the distance and help raise funds and awareness for the association.

According to Meltzer, the members of the Wild Lions Club have been long-time supporters and donors to the guide-dogs association so taking on the challenge was a pleasure. The club usually contribute towards the training of one guide dog every year. “Lions Clubs internationally are motivated to assist the blind with sight-related issues, such as river blindness,” he said.

Meltzer also has a love for cycling which made the challenge all the more exciting. “I cycle most weekends throughout the year and it has managed to help me stay active during the lockdown,” he said.

Not only have there been no cycle races due to the restrictions of the lockdown but many of those that have occurred do not allow individuals over the age of 60 to participate. “The virtual cycle challenge gives me an opportunity to take up a goal to fundraise and complete an event,” Meltzer added.

“My personal goal was to complete the 101kms and to raise funds for SA Guide-Dogs who assist people not always in the public space because of the issue of being blind,” he concluded.