Press Release
Lions Free Skin Cancer Screening Vehicle Launch Hanmer Springs, 29th March 2025
In 1990 the Lions Clubs of Western Australia set up a Free Skin Cancer Screening Service which has been operating successfully for 30 years. In 2019 Gary Irvine of the Institute attended the New Zealand Lions Convention in Blenheim and gave a presentation on the establishment of the Australian Lions Cancer Institute. He encouraged New Zealand Lions to follow their example and save lives from Skin Cancer particularly Melanoma. New Zealand along with Australia has the highest rate of incidences of skin cancer per population in the world. In New Zealand 504 people a year die of melanoma.
Early detection of skin cancer saves lives.
The statistics were alarming and Paul O’Connor of the Lions Club of Halswell, Christchurch took up the challenge to produce a feasibility study to convince the 8500 members of Lions New Zealand of the necessity of a Free Skin Cancer screening service. Paul attended each of the 7 Lions District Conventions, to speak on the importance of being part of a solution to save lives. The project was approved in November 2021 by the Lions Clubs of New Zealand National Council and the Lions Cancer Trust was formed with a representative from each of the seven Lions Districts of NZ.
The trustees encouraged Lions clubs in their area to raise funds and have to date raised a total of $500,000 towards the building of two vehicles, one for each Island. The first vehicle was purchased in early 2024 with a completion date of early March 2025. It will be launched in Hanmer Springs on the 29th of March 2025 at approximately 10.30am.
The Lions Clubs Cancer Trust is grateful to all our Sponsors, Go Bus is one of the major sponsors, along with the Lions Clubs International Foundation who donated over $100,000.00. A huge thanks goes to the vehicle builders Brendan Thomson and Joanna Smith of Ashburton. Multiple other supporters have given products for the build at low cost or have donated, such is their belief and commitment to this life saving service. There will be a display board of donors at the launch. Community groups have also been very generous in supporting the Trust.
The Lions Clubs Cancer Trust continues to work to raise sufficient funds for a second vehicle and operational costs. Lions Clubs International is the largest membership-based volunteer organisation in the World. Our 1.4 million members in more than 49,000 clubs are volunteering in over 200 countries and geographic areas. Since 1917 Lions have improved health, wellbeing, and strengthened communities by supporting those in need, locally and globally.”.
