Diabetes is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, strokes, and limb amputations.  The World Health Organization estimates that in 1980 there were 108 million people diagnosed with diabetes.  As of 2014, the number grew to 422 million.

Lions Clubs hold local Strides Walks and partner with other organizations to promote diabetes awareness.

According to Lions Clubs International (LCI), "Every two minutes a child is diagnosed with cancer and less than half of the world’s children have access to effective care. Children who survive cancer are often left with debilitating effects that can impact their physical development and ability to learn.

Lions and Leos are answering the call to expand access to life saving treatment and support the children and families who need us most. We are working to give children with cancer a second chance at life."

A poor environment can lead to disease and have other negative impacts on people's health.  It can also lead to contaminated food, water, and air.

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Lions Clubs plant trees, promote recycling, and help clean up local communities to promote a healthy environment.

For nearly 100 years, Lions Club members have worked on projects designed to prevent blindness, restore eyesight, and improve eye health and eye care for hundreds of millions of people worldwide.

The Shawnee Lions Club collects used eyeglasses, funds eye exams and glasses, and does vision screenings for elementary school students each fall, in a scan lasting just a couple of seconds, and can identify at an early stage, visual and refractive problem which could go on to affect a child's school performance. 

In the United States, hunger relief may be thought of as an issue only with other countries. However, 1 in 4 Oklahoma children is at risk of going to bed hungry, and 1 in 16 Oklahoma seniors (age 60+) struggle with hunger. 

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Shawnee Lions and Leos have volunteered time with the Community Market of Pottawatomie County.