Interview with the lions
There are lots of dedicated Lions doing sterling work in promoting MedicAlert and raising awareness of our lifesaving charity. One of the most active Clubs is Budleigh Salterton, down in Devon, so we caught up with their MedicAlert Officer, Geoff Paver, to find out more about the work he and his fellow Lions are involved in.
MA - How long have you been a Lion and when did you become a MedicAlert Officer?
GP - I have been a member of Budleigh Salterton Lions Club for 20 years and just after 2 months of joining I became a Welfare Officer for the Club which included MedicAlert
A few years later all Lions Club were asked to make a great effort in publicising MedicAlert and it was at that time when our Club made a separate post of MedicAlert Officer, which I took on and did whilst acting as Activities and Gala Week Chairman along with serving 4 years as President of the Club.
The Club adopted the stance that we would either provide the stainless steel Emblems (pendants/bracelets) plus the first year's subscription for any applicant. Recently we changed that to making a donation of £45.00 towards the cost with the recipient paying the balance to take advantage of the wide range of products that MedicAlert offers. Ensuring that people are comfortable wearing the lifesaving Emblem at all times.
MA - Budleigh Salterton Lions Club has a Long history of supporting local people with hidden medical conditions and allergies by sponsoring them with a MedicAlert Emblem. How did that start?
GP - On taking up the role of MedicAlert Officer, I started spreading the word about MedicAlert in Schools, Clinics and Hospitals, as well as attending various organisations to speak about MedicAlert and the various activities that our Club has done and what Lions are all about.
MA - How do the Lions of Budleigh Salterton spread awareness of MedicAlert in the local community today?
GP - Now we have a constant supply of MedicAlert leaflets in Doctor's Surgeries, Chemists, Dentists and our local Hospital. We hold an annual Awareness Day, which is now its 11th year, where we have a Balloon Race and BBQ with lots of Charity Stalls along the Sea Front. It's a great day out for all the family.
Any Charity/Organisation that takes part donates £10, and the profit from the BBQ and Balloon Race continues to keep us in funds for providing sponsorship of MedicAlert's service for those with hidden medical conditions and allergies.
MA - What other campaigns and charitable works are you and Budleigh Salterton Lions involved with?
GP - We are involved in many other charitable works. We have an annual Golf Day for a specific Charity and this year it is for our Local F.O.R.C.E. Cancer Charity and hope to raise for them around £4,000.00
We co-ordinate our Towns Gala Week, which this year was our 27th year, where we have 9 days of events with something on every morning, afternoon and evening. This raises between £13,000 - £15,000 for the Organisations and Charities taking part.
We organise an annual Duck Race of a 1,000 ducks down our local river, an annual OAPs Christmas lunch for over 100 people, cooked and served by ourselves under the watchful eye of a lady who takes charge. We also provide key safes for person who are very poorly and cannot answer doors, which enables cares and nurses/doctors to gain access.
MA - What is the most memorable moment you have had as a MedicAlert Officer?
GP - What price can you put on a life; we know that through Medic alert 3 local people had their lives saved.
One was a 6 year old girl whose mother took her to ballet lessons and then went to do her shopping; on returning found her daughter had been taken to Hospital having collapsed. Paramedics contacted MedicAlert for details after seeing her Emblem. This was before mobile phones so Mum couldn't be contacted until she returned to collect her daughter.
Another was a 15 year old girl who collapsed on our Town Green. Passers by thought she was drunk but she was actually having an epileptic fit. A passer by thought there was something wrong and called an ambulance and again her Medic Alert bracelet proved a godsend.
The third was a gentleman in his 40's who suffered from hemophilia, a condition where his blood does not clot normally, cut himself very badly. Paramedics were able get all his details from his MedicAlert pendant/bracelet (he wears both) and treat him accordingly.
These are the stories that make you realise how important MedicAlert is.
