Category Archives: Leos

Merriman Lions Club Launches Youth Initiative for a Leo Club

From left to right:
Leo Deon van Wulven. Sebastian Fonsecu and
Nakita – Lee Croucamp of Thornton, Leo Janine van Wulven
With Claire Fonsecu aged 7
Photo by Clive Fox

Merriman Lions Club serving Goodwood, Parow , Bellville and all points North as the president Mr Clive Fox states has the motto “Service has no Boundaries.”

After a flyer hand out to learners at various local schools young people , some with their parents, attended a one hour information workshop over the long weekend. Presented by young trainers an audio visual introduced the world of LEOS –

Leadership, Excellence, Opportunity through service.

Highlighting LEO membership as an opportunity for a little adventure, fun with new friends, helping to make the community a better place young guests registered to help at 1 to 1 at the Good Hope Centre on the 18th and to meet again at

Merriman Lions Community Centre on Saturday 24th at 14h00.

Want to know more? Call Deon 083 713 6926

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An appeal from the heart at Merriman Lions women’s day breakfast

L to R: Lucky prize winners Leal Fourie, district Leo president, Hilda Quinlivan & Hazel Middleton all of Monte Vista and Lion Alan Fisher of Milnerton sit with heart transplant recipient Mrs Mavis Carelse of Tableview

Mavis Carelse now 58 years old, married with a daughter and four grandchildren, was born with a “hole in the heart”. Rheumatic fever developed resulting in hospitalisation for a year and a six week long coma.

Her schooling was marred by her first stroke in 1973 and Nosebleeds throughout her high school days. She has had a number of strokes and three open heart procedures in 1980, 1984 and 1993 to replace her aortic and mitral valves and another in 2006 to effect valve repairs.

After this procedure failed she was scheduled for a transplant which was performed in 2008. Apart from the strain of waiting for a donor Mavis had meanwhile contracted tuberculosis and had to have 4 to 6 litres of blood transfused every fortnight during that period.

Her appeal for the other guests to become Organ Donors was echoed by Mr Clive Fox, Merriman Lions Club president who highlighted the fact that one registered organ donor in good health can save seven lives.

Although unable to work or drive Mavis is very active and speaks at ladies meetings, supports the Organ Donor Foundation and the Heart Foundation and does everything to encourage others to donate and save lives.

In answer to the question as to whether she felt any different as a result of a new heart she said that she previously disliked chocolate and loved birdsong. Now it’s the other way round as she now loves chocolates and hates hearing the birds sing.

Her amazing faith and positive attitude earned her the admiration of the more than sixty guests who together with Mavis and her husband Brian enjoyed a hearty breakfast.

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Ordinary people doing amazing things

YOUTH CLUB: Leos, a youth development project of Lions Clubs, have recently elected their officers for the new service year 2011/12. Taking up the challenge to encourage young people to join Leo clubs to serve the community through caring projects whilst offering both fun and life skills opportunities are: (Leo Club Presidents) Kevin Goble (Fish Hoek), Cindy Hayward (De Tyger), Bradley Ware – Lane (Brackenfell), Janine van Wulven (district Leo president) and Keagan Hartle (Leo Club President) (Newlands), not pictured Maxine Daniels (Leo Club President) (Kirstenbosch). Age groups are 12 to 18 and Omega from 18 to 30 years. For details contactl Janine on 083 503 5118 or email

Legacy of Lionism spokesperson

GREENING – Responding to the challenge of Lions International President Wung – Ku Tam to plant 1.5 million trees in his year Lions worldwide have already planted nearly 3 million in four months.

Health – The Cape Town Drug Counselling Centre and the Eyebank were both founded with Lions input and are still supported today. The Outpatients’ Sight Clinic at Groote Schuur Hospital was enlarged and equipped to meet increasing demand. Mowbray Maternity Hospital has another incubator which will save babies lives for many years.

“This is the legacy of Lionism – Ordinary People doing Amazing Things”

TIME: Sometimes 24 hours doesn’t seem enough. But if you could find just a few hours a month, you could brighten the life of someone. For more information on how you can get involved contact: 021 447 5020

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