Lions help make a wheel difference

A Martinborough Lions Club member learnt recently of a family who might need a bit of assistance. The family consisted of mum, dad and seven children – of whom two are fostered. If that was not challenging enough, one of the children in their care has special needs. 

The Lion’s member asked if there was some tangible way in which Lions might help.

Well, it happened that the child with the special needs is fiercely energetic and to burn off some of

that energy the family had had some success with a child’s motorised vehicle, but that vehicle was

no longer available. 

In an ideal world, the dad said he would love to purchase a Go-cart, one where the older siblings could be at the wheel and allow the younger child to expend some of that energy.

Well, that story is now history. 

The Lions member talked to others in the community and to club members and together, they personally contributed the funding needed to purchase the Go-cart. 

The vehicle was in Christchurch but thanks to Conor and the team at Mitre 10 Martinborough

the package was freighted to Mitre 10 Martinborough and is now home with the family. 

We as Lions and together with the wider community made a difference to this family and in turn derived joy from knowing we made a difference.

All too often when we say we are members of Martinborough Lions invariably its clear that few

know what this entails. Lions are ordinary people from all walks of life who enjoy getting together

and doing things to help the community in which we live. We work on projects to improve our

communities and protect the environment. And in doing so we get enormous satisfaction from the

knowledge that what we do makes a difference.

In Martinborough we have well-established fundraising events such as the Skyline Challenge and  the café at the Martinborough Fairs and equally well-established organisations with whom to share

those raised funds. 

We have members who assist in a regular programme of trapping pests as part of our desire to protect the local environment. At the same time, we are always on the hunt for new ways to help in this community and keen to hear where we can assist.

Do you have a project that you think we can help with or, better still, do you want to become a

member and have fun while making a difference in this community _ not to mention lifetime

friendships. 

Just contact us at martinboroughlions@gmail.com

ends

Caption: Lion’s president Belinda Jorgensen and Mitre10’s Conor Kershaw manhandle the new go-cart.