Expressnews
Chennai, September 2023: To commemorate the “NATIONAL EYE DONATION FORTNIGHT”from 25th August, 2023 till 8th September, 2023, Lions International District 324 K organised a Motor Rally by thirty differently-abled persons titled “A JOURNEY FOR SIGHT” with the motto being “Eye Donation and Eye Care”.
The rally started on 25.08.2023 from the LIONS EYE [CORNEA] BANK at RIO GOH Research foundation, Egmore, Chennai, and travelled via all major districts of Tamil Nadu for 15 days carrying banners and placards depicting slogans on Eye Donation and reached Chennai on 8.09.2023, that is, yesterday. Throughout the rally, car/auto stickers were also distributed and importance of Eye Donation was highlighted. The Rally covered the major places in the districts of Tamilnadu like Villupuram – Perambalur, Trichy – Ramanathapuram – Kayalpattinam,Tuthukudi – Kanyakumari – Tenkasi – Srivilliputhur , Virudhunagar – Madurai – Udumalaipet, Pollachi, Coimbatore – Erode – Dharmapuri – Thirupathur – Ranipettai – Chennai over these 15 days.
The Rally covered nearly 2000 Km in 15 days, an average of 150 km per day in the modified three- wheeler bikes. These bikes can travel only at a speed of 30 km per hour. Throughout the travel, the public were extremely receptive, welcoming and also encouraged and supported the rally in all ways.
Rally participants had an opportunity of meetingMr. Ramakrishnan and Mr. Sankar Raman of Amar Seva Sangh. They also visited the Lions Schools at Srivilliputhur and at Coimbatore.
Stickers were pasted on cars, buses, petrol bunks and in many commercial establishments. The awareness on eye donation was received well by the general public and many came forward and assured that they would donate their eyes.
Many youtubers followed us and covered the entire rally and many Associations for the differently- abled also received the participants at many places.
The rally ended with a valedictory function on September 9, 2023 which was held at the Bharat Scouts and Guides Camp from 6:30 a.m. onwards. As a part of this function a 5K Run took place with more than 600 participants which was flagged off by Thiru Samay Singh Meena , DC, Traffic.
More than 200 Scouts and Guides and 180 Leos were standing along the route holding placards and banners with the message of eye donation.
The Chief Guest, Thiru Gagandeep Singh Bedi, Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of Tamilnadu, addressed thegathering and stressed the importance of eye donation. He was gracious enough to personally meet and interact with all differently-abled rally participants and honoured all of them.
The event ended with the national anthem.
Rally organisers – PMJF Ln Rajesh .N.Dave , District Governor District 324 K
DC- Vision, MJF Ln.ShobaSrikanth
DC- Eye Donation Awareness Rally, MJF Ln G.Suresh
