The Vermilion Lions Club hosted its 25th Annual Texas Scramble Golf Tournament at the Vermilion Golf and Country Club on June 7, at 1 p.m.
The Vermilion Lions Club was ecstatic to once again be able to hold a golf tournament in support of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) Canadians with vision loss and the Lions Club Dog Guide Foundation.
“This year we decided to split a portion of the proceeds with the CNIB and the Dog Guides program, while the remaining portion of the proceeds will be held back for local projects which the Lions Club may support,” commented Lions member Cliff Rolheiser.
Fourteen teams attended and battled the extremely windy conditions for the cause. During the game participants were challenged by a long blind drive for men and women, a longest blindfolded putt, and had the opportunity to win a $10,000 hole-in-one prize; however either way every golfer went home with a prize. Once golfing was complete attendees were able to enjoy a supper with all the trimmings. They also had the opportunity to try on glasses that simulated macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy.
According to CNIB, approximately 1.5 million Canadians identify as having sight loss, with an additional 5.59 million at risk due to eye disease. Major eye conditions such as cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy significantly impact Canadians’ well-being and quality of life. Moreover, only one-third of Canadian working-age adults with vision loss are employed, and half of these individuals earn $20,000 or less annually. Seniors over 60 with sight loss are three times more likely to experience clinical depression, and all people with sight loss face a higher risk of social isolation and reduced community participation.
Proceeds from the golf tournament will benefit CNIB programs across Alberta, helping individuals living with blindness or sight loss to live more independently by leveraging technology and support services.
In addition to supporting CNIB, the tournament will also benefit the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides. This organization provides life-changing Dog Guides to Canadians with various medical and physical disabilities, including canine vision, hearing, service, seizure response, autism assistance, diabetic alert, and facility support. Since 1985, the Pet Valu Walk for Dog Guides has helped facilitate over 3,000 partnerships between Canadians living with disabilities and their Dog Guides. Currently, there are 1,062 active Dog Guide teams across Canada. Each Dog Guide costs approximately $35,000 to raise, train, and place, but eligible Canadians receive their Dog Guide at no cost.
“The tournament was a great success with it bringing in approximately $8,000 to be shared between the two organizations,” said Lions Member Peter Clark.
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