SHOOTING, mammoth treasure hunts and driving fire engines - not what you would expect from your average fundraising club.
But the Chester Lions are proving there is so much more to being charitable than shaking buckets in supermarkets and directing traffic.
With events ranging from the unusual to the bizarre, the men aged between 40 and 80 have been raising more than £40,000 every year for struggling groups and projects across Cheshire.
And over the past six months the club has been painstakingly working on transforming an old bus into a top of the range roaming eye surgery for the people of Uganda.
Ted Davis, who worked on the project, said the Lions had financial help from 63 other groups across the country.
“I spent much of my life in India where they performed hundreds of cataract operations every day.
“It took about six to seven months hard work and the bus is now on its way to Kampala, the capital of Uganda, on a ship where the Lions club there, who have an eye surgeon, will take it on.”
The Lions held various fundraising events to collect the £45,000 to refurbish and equip the ‘eyebus’, which is hoped will help save the sight of hundreds of people.
And another unexpected event will drive into the Duke's Chester estate as women attempt to manoeuvre fire engines, ambulances and buses through his pristine gardens.
The sponsored ‘prove your driving skills’ event will see competitors drive large lorries, tractors, quad bikes and police cars at the Eaton Estate and Poulton Airfield in September.
“We had to cancel it last year because of a lack of support, but this year the Duke, who is an honorary Lion has been very supportive and we are going ahead,” said Ted.
To join in the fun on September 17-18 and raise money for three local charities visit www.chesterlions.co.uk.
