KUALA LUMPUR, 23 February 2011 – Sid L. Scruggs III, President of the International Association of Lions Clubs together with Lions Club District 308 B1 & B2 Organizing Chairman for Walk for Sight event Dato’ Neoh Soo Keat, who is also the founder and managing director of Trinity Group Sdn Bhd, today presented the Lions Eye Clinic with a donation cheque of RM77, 318.72 at MASHA College.
This amount was raised during its most ambitious charity project ‘Walk for Sight’ which was held last year on the 10th of October 2010 at the Dewan Sivik MBPJ, Petaling Jaya. This event which was held in conjunction with Lions World Sight Day, aimed to raise funds for the preservation and restoration of eyesight among underprivileged people. World Sight Day is an annual event focusing on the problem of global blindness where its main aim is to raise public awareness around the world about the prevention and treatment of loss of vision.
“I am honored to know that Trinity Group has found a cause that we all believe in and have a passion for wiping out. We will continue our awareness, education and fundraising efforts throughout the years to come. By harnessing the power of awareness and advocacy, we will make a difference and help curb this problem faced by the needy,” states LION Dato’ Neoh Soo Keat.
This event garnered tremendous support from the public. Approximately 1,500 participants joined in this fun charity event last year where they were required to complete a 3km loop, starting from Dewan Sivik MBPJ to Amcorp Mall. The twist to this event was that one participant out of every pair had to be blindfolded, making the 3km walk a lot more challenging for the blinded participant and the other who had to guide his or her partner.
The ultimate objective of the walk was to give everyone a taste of just how difficult and sometimes dangerous life can be for the blind, leaving a deep impression that will keep them on the alert for preventable and treatable blindness for themselves and the people around them.
Dr. Kalamanathan, Chairman of LIONS Eye Clinic Foundation said “With this donation and initiative Trinity has shown exemplary social responsibility, we hope that this will set a precedent for other businesses to help ease the pain and burden for the poor and elderly who are blind due to cataract.” He added that the World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that the number of blind people in the world could raise double in next 25 year and working together can make a major difference to the lives of millions who are already visually disabled or at risk.
Dr. Kalamanathan also encouraged families who have relatives or friends that needs help to register with the society and thanked all who participated and contributed to the ‘Walk for Sight’ walkathon and help raise fund for the cause.
“Without events like this and contribution from the public, the Clinic could not stay open and continue to provide free operations and intra-ocular lens (IOL) implants for the needy and elderly who are blind due to cataract” he added.