MEMBERS of Aberystwyth’s Lions Club have visited the northern Philippines to take part in a range of initiatives including providing Christmas presents to youngsters and handing out reading glasses.

District chair Benjamin Manlucato, who owns Aberystwyth’s Central Fish Restaurant, and Dave Hurst, of Aberystwyth Lions, joined members of the Laoac United Lions Club on a range of projects.

That included handing out a range of Christmas presents to youngsters in a local paediatric unit, providing reading glasses, and handing over a donation of school books collected by the Swansea Valley Lions Club.

Benjamin said: “The goal is to contribute success to the ambitious new strategic LCI Forward plan to raise global visibility for the Lions movement and ultimately achieve the Lions’ Vision. During the visit, humanitarian activity projects were carried out in consultation with Laoac United Lions Club and the Pangasinan Coast Lions Club in northern Philippines.”

Over 200 pairs of reading glasses were also distributed to people at a local high school.

Benjamin added: “The reading glasses were distributed to indigent community members who were given suitable reading glasses commensurate to spectacle’s grade required. The glasses were provided by Medico France.”

The Lions are also hoping to work with Medico France to distribute more recycled reading glasses.

Benjamin said a world record attempt involving reading glasses is planned for March and those glasses would then be distributed around the world.

He said: “Help us give the gift of sight to others through your old reading glasses.”