WINDBER LIONS CLUB GIVE THE GIFT OF SIGHT FOR CHRISTMAS

The Windber Lions Club members were able to give a local man the gift of sight for Christmas.

A total of $8,000 was raised through fundraisers, local clubs and individual donors to help the 46-year-old Windber man pay for the organ bank fees associated with his surgery.

His insurance paid for the doctors, surgery and other costs, but it didn't pay the expensive organ bank fees, according to former Lions Club president Jeremy O'Roark. O'Roark declined to provide the donation recipient's name because he was not given permission to release it.

"We decided to pledge $2,000 from our chicken barbecue to the cornea surgery, then apply for a matching $2,000 grant," he said. "So we had the first cornea paid for."

When the Lions weren't sure how to raise another $4,000, they just decided to send letters to other social clubs in the area. The community quickly stepped up and funded the transplant.

Current Lions president Steve Reed said that the man was legally blind. He had no vision in one eye and very limited vision in the other. Now He will be able to see again.

"He lost his job because he couldn't do his previous duties there," Reed said. "It's going to be a whole new world for him.

"Giving this gift of sight to someone for Christmas... What a wonderful thing to be able to say," Reed said. "It's not often we give someone something that life-changing."

Any extra money that was donated will be added to the local Lions clubs. The Lions support people with diabetes, pediatric cancer, vision problems, environmental issues and hunger relief.

For those who still wish to help, the Lions are hosting a cash bash on Feb. 29 at the club, a health fair on March 28 at Windber Area Elementary School and chicken barbecues on May 9 and the second week of October.

"We would like to thank all the people and all the businesses for reaching deep into the heart and helping us help this family," said Reed. "There is no way we could have achieved this on our own."

• Update - Due to his doctor retiring , he had to see a new doctor and get tested again upon seeing the new doctor he was told that a cornea transplant was not the  best option , he was told the best chance was to do corneal cross linking , first eye was done after it heals he will schedule the second eye , cross linking is more expensive but we promised him our help and we will stick to that. all together when this is done we will have raised 11,200 dollars to help . we will continue to update as we hear thank you all for your support
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