GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The Lions Karoo to Coast Mountain Bike Challenge attracted close to 4 500 riders on 22 September. 

This well-known 100km race routes over the Prince Alfred's Pass and finishes at Knysna High School.

Henry Williams, a local mountain biker, rode his fourth race this year in support of sight-related projects run by the Uniondale and Knysna Lions Clubs, who host the Lions Karoo to Coast. 

All proceeds from the event are used for this initiative, called SightFirst projects, across the Southern Cape.

SightFirst is a Lions Club International initiative to fight the major causes of preventable and reversible blindness by providing eye health care to those who cannot afford it.

The Lions Club also supports the SA Guide Dogs Association and were able to hand over a cheque of R100 000 to the association's team at the event finish in Knysna. "They will be using the funds to raise and train a guide dog, Elva, who is currently a 14-week-old puppy," says Olwen Toms of the Knysna Lions Club.

"With additional assistance from some very generous medical service providers, we supply an average of 340 pairs of spectacles every year. A total of 5 009 cataract operations have been sponsored to date, and 28 corneal grafts have been done, among other interventions." 

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