Lions Club’s Paris2Nice challenge raised €52,000

People of all ages and from all walks of life took on the Mullingar Lions Club Paris2Nice 800km challenge which raised €52,150 this year. The campaign was headed by Mullingar Lion, Frank Dillon, a keen cyclist who undertook to complete the 800km in a week.

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner this week, Frank recalled how people were keen to get out and about after the lockdown, so he and his team invited them to cycle, walk, jog or run 800km. Individuals, families, teams, schools, clubs and companies took up the challenge, traversing the greenway, Grand and Royal Canal routes and the many highways and byways that weave around the midlands.

There was great enthusiasm and a real spirit of camaraderie throughout the campaign, Frank said. The Lions Club was overwhelmed by the response and by the amount raised, thanks to the enormous generosity of those who sponsored and donated.

All proceeds go towards projects undertaken by Mullingar Lions Club in supporting vulnerable sectors of the community. Recent projects include provision of a sensory room in St Brigid’s School, and they also committed €150,000 over three years to LARCC Cancer Support Sanctuary for additional counselling and therapy services.

Mullingar Lions Club reaches out to people who are vulnerable and in need. Frank outlined one recent example of a woman who was living in a house that was barely habitable. She had no running water and had to wash in a bucket under a leaking roof. They revamped her house, providing her with a new roof and full bathroom and shower facilities.

In 2020/2021, during lockdown, they delivered approximately 230 Sunday dinners to elderly people living alone. Each week, they deliver fuel and food parcels to many families. They also provide care and support for families affected by illness and disability and they support mental health and all support services.

The Lions Club works in conjunction with the frontline services with referrals being made to them by nurses, doctors, gardaí and other public service staff. Where necessary, the Lions Club carries out household repairs and provides essential equipment relevant to the household’s basic needs.

They also help out with Confirmation, First Holy Communion and back to school expenses.

The money raised by the Paris2Nice challenge will allow the Lions Club to continue that work and to reach out to more families in need. New areas they are exploring include the provision of assessments for children with autism and dyslexia. Frank explained that there are often long waiting lists for such assessments and the Lions Club is keen to support disability services.

As we go to print, the Lions Club Christmas Food Appeal is happening. Traditionally, members of the Lions Club set up at supermarkets, where shoppers could donate items for distribution.

Covid-19 has put a stop to that practice and this year, like last year, the Lions Club is accepting financial donations and issuing vouchers to families. This project is a joint venture with St Vincent de Paul, ensuring that all in need are taken care of at Christmas time.

Mullingar Lions Club works closely with the St Vincent de Paul Society to ensure that their services do not overlap, but complement each other. This project is headed up by Hugh Woodhouse.

Mullingar Lions Club teamed up with David Smyth Catering in 2014 for the Christmas Dinner Project. Lions Club members and friends deliver dinners on Christmas Day and St Stephen’s Day to people who are spending the festive season alone. Frank remarked on the generosity and Christmas spirit of David and his catering team at Bracklyn, Delvin, expressing a sincere word of thanks.

He said that this is not just confined to Christmas and that during lockdown more than 200 dinners were delivered from David’s kitchen to communities across the entire county. He expressed a huge thank you to all volunteers who helped out.

Frank, on behalf of Mullingar Lions Club, also expressed a heartfelt thanks to everybody for their kindness and support during the Paris2Nice campaign, with the net result of raising €52,150. He stated that their “generosity and goodwill had been staggering once again and will enable us to continue to provide the platform to complete our present projects and embark on new ones”, fulfilling the motto of the Lions Club ‘to serve the community’.

Frank wished everyone a happy and peaceful Christmas and God’s blessing in 2022.