THE Lions Club of Petaling Jaya this year aims to raise RM300,000 through its Blind Leading the Blind (BLB) charity walk, scheduled for Dec 10.
Returning after a two-year absence due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 14th edition of the annual event will be held at the Malaysia Association for the Blind (MAB) in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, from 7am.
It will cover 2.5km, starting from the Tun Sambanthan monorail station and passing through Jalan Sultan Abdul Samad, Jalan Rozario, Jalan Tun Sambanthan, and Jalan Tun Sambanthan 4.
Event organising chairman Ronnie Wong said the annual walk will take about half an hour.
Other organising partners are Rotary Club of Damansara-West, Rotary Club of Pantai Valley, Apex Club of Petaling Jaya, Lions Club of Kajang, Lions Club of Kajang Dynamic, Lions Club of Puchong, Lions Club of Rawang and Lions Club of Selangor Empire.
Communication and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil has been invited to flag-off the participants.
Wong said the funds collected will be used to provide free cataract operations and eye care programmes for the poor and needy.
“The funds will also be used to support training programmes for the visually impaired.
“Some 40% of the funds will be donated to MAB and the rest will be retained in our own charity foundation to support more eye care projects,” he said in a press conference at the national association’s office in Petaling Jaya.
The walk, he said, would also allow the sighted to experience the difficulties of those without sight.
“Participants will be walking in pairs, with one being blindfolded and the other being sighted or visually impaired.
“In this way, the blindfolded participant can experience what it is like to navigate in the dark.
“It is hoped that such exposure will educate the public on the importance of eye care,” he said.
Wong also encouraged families to spend quality time together by joining in the walk.
“There will be lucky draws and goodies awaiting,” he added.
The club has donated more than RM1mil to Tun Hussein Onn National Eye Hospital through the past 13 editions of the walk.
“With that, more than 20,000 free eye screenings and 2,000 free cataract operations have been provided to the poor and needy in rural areas of the peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak,” Wong said.
As the walk is free, Wong called on the public to weigh in with donations and support the club’s annual fundraiser.
Those wishing to donate can do so via bank transfer to the Lions Club of Petaling Jaya (CIMB Bank account 8009372316), citing the name of the recipient as, “Lions Club of Petaling Jaya”.
Those wanting to donate more than RM500 can transfer the money to a separate CIMB account at 8003566383, with the recipient address “Petaling Jaya Lions Charity Foundation.”
A tax exemption will be issued for donors who donate more than RM500. — By LEW GUAN XI
