Lions roar ahead in support of frontline health workers

THE Lions Club of Ennis are roaring in behind efforts to provide hundreds of thousands of face shields for frontline health workers throughout Ireland. Lions Clubs have pledged to raise up to €100,000 nationally to fund 200,000 ‘Hero Shield’ face visors which will be distributed free of charge to front line health workers throughout Ireland.
Michael Neylon, president of Lions Club of Ennis has confirmed that the club will be getting involved with campaign, along with working to help local families in need as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Michael explains that all clubs in the district were contacted about the project and after remote consultation with members the Lions Club of Ennis will be making a donation.
“At local level we have a few members engaging with vulnerable families who are in particular need during this Covid-19 crisis. We have also offered our services to the Clare County council Community Response group.”
The project, led by James O’Sullivan of Macroom Lions Club, was initially supported by nine other clubs and has since gained the support of Lions Clubs District 133, which covers the island of Ireland. To date €20,000 has been raised nationally.
Lions Zone Chairman Orla Flavin from Cobh Lions Club, “We are already getting a very positive response from Lions Clubs all over the country and we are confident that we will reach our target of €100,000. Not all heroes wear capes but as Lions Clubs, we can help make sure our heroes wear shields’.
James O’Sullivan of Macroom Lions Club, who initiated the project explains, “Twenty companies across the country are giving their time, talents and tools free of charge to produce these visors which are manufactured here in Ireland, are certified and meet EU Standards. Covid 19 teams North and South have already approved the Lions Hero Shields. An Garda Síochána, Hospitals and, Care Homes North and South across the country have been contacted and are anxious to take delivery of our PPE’s as soon as possible. The need is clear as statistics show front line staff account for almost a quarter of the Covid-19 cases in Ireland.”
Lions Clubs District Governor Bernard Black, “The 1.4m members of 46,000 Lions Clubs throughout the world are dedicated to serving their communities and this project enables Lions Clubs to make a meaningful contribution to the battle against Covid 19 in Ireland. It also complements the wide range of voluntary community support which Lions Clubs have been offering to their local communities since the virus first emerged in Ireland.”
The Hero Shield is a full-face visor designed to be used by front line workers in the battle against the Covid-19 virus. It is a vital piece of Personal Protective Equipment in the armoury of kit helping to protect those who put themselves at risk to help others.
The visors are manufactured in Ireland by Hero Shield, a new not-for-profit collective of companies, and are certified as meeting all relevant EU standards. The HSE has already noted that, as the visor has no moving parts, it is easier to sterilise and reuse than many existing solutions.

The Hero Shield will be available free to HSE and An Garda Síochána personnel in the Republic of Ireland and NHS and PSNI personnel in Northern Ireland. Donations towards the Ennis Lions Club can be made to the Lions Club of Ennis bank account,
IBAN IE AIBK 9353 8742 60502 21.