Ortonville-For more than 75 years Lions Clubs worldwide have been recognized for their service to the blind and visually impaired.
But when a longtime Ortonville Lions Club member needed some help members rushed to his side.
Ken Hearns, 77, has been a member of the Lions for more than 38 years and needed some assistance following a lung cancer diagnosis last year. In May doctors removed a portion of Hearns? lung and prescribed chemotherapy. To make matters even worse Hearns also suffers from severe back problems which now require the use of an electric wheelchair.
‘I just couldn’t get out of my house with my motorized chair,? said Hearns. ‘All I wanted was a short ramp so I could go outside when I needed to.?
As a Lions member Hearns had worked on several projects to assist those in the community’now he needed some assistence.
So on April 21 the Ortonville Lions Club arrived at Hearns home with tools, lumber and a desire to help one of their own.
‘He’s been a member of the Ortonville Lions Club for a long time,? said Lee Palshan, Ortonville Lions Club member who orgainized the project.
‘Ken also keeps a perfect attendance with the club over those 38 years’he even attends other Lions Club meetings when he’s out of town. Only two members have a perfect attendance.?
Despite a spring snowstorm and gusty winds Palshan said the project was completed in about four days.
‘It means a lot to us to have this ramp,? said Hearns.
‘Everyone put a lot of time in during very bad weather, I just really appreciate it.?