Alan brings up 40,000 specs

From Bexhill the spectacles are taken free of charge by Parcelforce to Chichester Lions who select the items that are suitable for reuse and sort them for onward transmission to Medico Lions Club de France in Le Havre. In France they have the necessary equipment to clean and grade the spectacles ready for use in eye camps in Africa and Asia - and there are 16 similar Lions-run recycling centres in other parts of the world processing 20 million glasses a year.

"Lions have been involved in sight-related activities since 1925", reported Alan, "and in early days introduced both the White Cane and Blind Dog Training Schools throughout the world.

"At the moment over 150 million people around the world have near-sightedness, far-sightedness, and astigmatism, errors which easily can be diagnosed and corrected with eyeglasses. Yet millions of people in developing countries do not have access to these basic services, so individuals and families are frequently pushed into a cycle of deepening poverty because of their inability to see well.

"The goal of Lions International Eyeglass Recycling Programme is to meet the demand for quality eyeglasses in developing nations. Currently, it costs less than four pence to provide someone with recycled eyeglasses so they can read, attend school, gain employment and take care of their families".

"And now I'm looking forward to reaching the 50000 mark" continued Alan.

"Lions have collecting boxes all over Bexhill, and all types of eyeglasses and sunglasses, prescription and non-prescription, are acceptable. Children's eyeglasses are especially needed. Reading glasses are also useful because many recipients are in need of visual correction to help them perform close-up tasks. Sunglasses are needed by people living near the equator in order to shield their eyes from the sun's damaging rays."

If you have old glasses sitting in a drawer at home, please dig them out and place them in a Lions collecting box which can be found in Bexhill at Specsavers, Barraclough & Stiles, Goddard & Rogers, Green & Elliott, Alliance Chemists in Collington, Lloyds Chemists in Old Town, and in Little Common at the Surgery and Barry Edwards.

More information on the Lions "Recycling for Sight" progammes can be found on the websites:

Lions International Vision programmes: www.lionsclubs.org/EN/index.shtml

Chichester Lions Spectacle recycling: www.chilions.freeserve.co.uk/specs.htm

Bexhill Lions Club: www.bexhill.lions105se.org.uk/