Walk the Walk of the Blind

A PROJECT TO RAISE FUNDS TO SUPPORT ACTIVITIES.

Each year, the Members of Lions Clubs in District 12-N hold a Walk for the Blind to raise awareness of the difficulties of blind persons in just walking by normal obstacles and to help raise money to support the sight conservation activities in the area. Walkers complete a sighted walk to earn money from their sponsors for the distance walked.

Then the Walkers join in pairs and walk a marked path in which each person is blindfolded for a portion of the distance. Instruction is provided by qualified trainers in the best way to lead the blindfolded walker to avoid obstructions in both the path and the overhead space. This provides both valuable training and experience.

In September of 1998, a WALK EVENT was held in two locations. One location was on the campus of the University of Tennessee at the Aquatic Center, and the other location was in the Lakeway Area on the site of the Lions Volunteer Blind Industries in Morristown. Last year, the two Walk of the Blind locations netted over $33,000 for the eight White Cane agencies supported by the Lions Clubs in District 12-N, raising the three-year total to over $67,000.

In 1999, the fourth annual Walk of the Blind will be held on Saturday, September 11, 1999 at two locations. In Knoxville, the Walk will be at the Tennessee School for the Deaf , and in Morristown, the Walk will be at the Lions Volunteer Blind Industries.

Plans for the 1999 Walks are already in the making. On August 3, 1999, a Luncheon was held in both Morristown and Knoxville to bring the Team Captains from various organizations together for a detailed discussions of the Walk Plans.

Pictures from the 1999 WALK DAY in Knoxville on the campus of the Tennessee School for the Deaf were provided by C. A. Ridge of the Norris Lions Club. CLICK HERE to see those pictures.

A detailed Web Site has been established for the Walk. CLICK HERE to go to that site. Use the [BACK] Button on your browser if you wish to return to this Site. There is also a link from that site to the District 12-N Web Site.

WHITE CANE DAYS

Once each year, usually in October, members of the individual Lions Clubs in the area solicit contributions from persons on street corners and store areas. These Lions Clubs members are identified with a White Cane emblem, and they distribute literature that provides details of the Activities that are supported through contributions. Except for the cost of printing the leaflets, all of the funds collected go to support these Activities.