Terry Halifax
Northern News Services

Inuvik (June 14/02) - Two charities will be helping visually impaired Canadians thanks to a television auction hosted by the Invuk Lions Club.

Past President Vicki Boudreau of the Lions Club said the club earned over $14,000 during the fourth annual auction.

The auction began as a promotional event to increase awareness of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.

"We were approached by the CNIB to have some sort of event in Inuvik that would profile the CNIB," Boudreau said.

The Lions looked for something unique during a period when people could afford to spend the time needed to support a good fundraiser. "We thought during that period when the road is closed a lot of businesses are pretty quiet and they've got some time to breath after the busy winter season," she said.

There were radio auctions held in the past, so they approached the local cable provider about hosting a TV auction. "We sent out all kinds of letters to local businesses," she recalled. "I think we raised about $7,000 in the first year."

Businesses and residents donated everything from new tires to a used clothes dryer with a dent to make the first auction a big success.

Boudreau said there were some bugs in the first year, that have since been worked out and the auction gets better every year.

"The production was pretty awful in the first year and I'd like to think we've improved a lot since then," she said.

The Inuvik chapter of Ride for Sight helped out with answering phones the first year and have continued each year since.

"They said, 'We had a blast and we'll come back next year and do it too,'" she recalled.

"It's been a partnership with them too throughout the four years."

Sharing the proceeds

The Lions decided to split the funds raised between the Ride for Sight and the CNIB.

"We thought they're both after the same thing, so we try to split the proceeds 50-50," Boudreau said.

Martha MacLellon, community outreach worker for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) said the Lions have always been great supporters of the CNIB.

The organization has 173 people across the NWT and Nunavut who rely on their services and those numbers are growing.

"We offer support for blind, visually impaired and deaf-blind people, rehabilitation services, orientation and mobility and counselling service," MacLellon said.

As the population ages, she says the service is needed more now than ever.

"Most of our clients are over 65," she said.