Clubs are well-known for accepting difficult challenges and Bill Gates of Microsoft fame made them such a challenge.   Worldwide 450 children die from measles every day and some 30% who contract measles suffer complications such as vision loss, hearing loss or brain damage. Measles is one of the world’s most contagious diseases, but is easily prevented by a simple and inexpensive vaccine, costing £1. This £1 could save one life. The Bill & Belinda Gates Foundation called upon the Lions to rise to this new challenge, when it donated the single largest gift in its history, over £3 million. The Gates Foundation used this historic gift to match every £2 raised by the Lions with an additional £1 donation. Together, the Lions and the Gates Foundation reached the target and raised a total of £10 million in a year. One pound provides one vaccine for one child and will give that child the chance of a healthy life.   In one short year this collaboration has resulted in the Lions supporting the immunisation of nearly 41 million children.

We actively collect used spectacles which we send to our colleagues at Chichester Lions Club who co-ordinate the national scheme.  They are then sorted by a team of Lions in a small workshop at their Apuldram Centre. Sorted spectacles are graded by Medico France in Le Havres. Inside Out Trust in the UK also grade spectacles in two UK prisons using equipment provided by Chichester Lions. Graded spectacles are supplied to order to developing countries for use in clinics and eye hospitals. If you wish to donate your old spectacles, we have a spectacle bin in the opticians in Market Rasen where you can deposit your old specs.

Message in a Bottle is not solely a Lions initiative, however it is an initiative that we at Market Rasen Lions have taken to and recognise as a means of fulfilling our motto “We Serve”. This scheme is free to the user. Whilst it is focused on the more vulnerable people in our community, anyone can fall downstairs, so this scheme can benefit anyone, including you. As a minimum it will save the Emergency Services valuable time identifying you and your emergency contacts. By telling whether you have special medication or allergies or not, it is a potential lifesaver and provides peace of mind to users and their friends and families. Bottles are available at the library and doctors surgeries in Market Rasen.

In 2013 we donated a total of 600 fluorescent waistcoats to local primary schools in Legsby, Market Rasen, Middle Rasen, Osgodby and Tealby. “Club members felt that it was important to put the emphasis back on safety for these young students and came up with the idea of providing these jackets” said John Fox, Vice President, Youth and Welfare Services Officer. “They should be a great road safety aid, making the children much more visible on dark mornings and evenings, and on school trips.”   In 2014 Faldingworth Primary School children were supplied with jackets and are delighted with them. Head teacher Kerri Grummell reported “the waistcoats have been donated by Market Rasen Lions Club, as part of their ongoing Road Safety Project, and should help make children much more visible during winter mornings and evenings as well as on school trips”.   In 2015 Lion President John Fox delivered 123 more new Hi Viz fluorescent waistcoats to local schools as part of this ongoing Road Safety Project. We have now supplied a Hi Viz Fluorescent Waistcoat to every pupil at seven local schools, at Faldingworth, Legsby, Market Rasen, Middle Rasen, Nettleton and Tealby.  All the schools have made a point of saying how much they appreciated our efforts.   In 2024 Lion President Gary Eastburn and Lion Membership Chairperson Elisabeth Eastburn co-ordinated with their team of Lion Members to check on the Schools in and around Market Rasen. To ensure all schools had adequate stocks of the Hi Viz Fluorescent waistcoats for the children and their teachers. This is all part of the Market Rasen Lions Club ongoing Road Safety Project. A total number of 8 schools were supplied in total with 462 Hy Viz Waistcoats and  64 Waistcoats for the teachers. These waistcoats will remain the property of the school and should help make children much more visible during school trips.