In commemoration of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, the Lagos Apex Leo Club, the youth arm of the Lagos Apex Lions Club, donates to CMS Primary Health Care Center.
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about childhood cancer and honor the resilience of young patients, their families, and healthcare workers.
️September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a time when we recognize and bring awareness to the resiliency of the children and their loved ones who battle cancer, as well as the incredible healthcare teams that support them. https://t.co/VIKvPrYKSe pic.twitter.com/3KFAfbFSGw
— Lagos Apex Leo Club (@Lagosapexleo) September 18, 2024
In alignment with this cause, the Lagos Apex Leo Club, led by Club President Leo Tomiwa Ibikunle, took the initiative to support children and their mothers at the CMS Primary Health Care Center in Ilaje Bariga, Lagos.
Though the children at this center are not necessarily battling cancer, the club was inspired by the month’s theme to donate bedspreads and pillowcases to the hospital, aiming to provide extra comfort to both the children and their caregivers. This simple yet thoughtful gesture was intended to create a more welcoming environment, making their hospital experience a bit easier.
Leo Tomiwa Ibikunle explained the club’s motivation: “We wanted to extend the spirit of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month by supporting children facing health challenges.
The Lagos Apex Leo Club remains committed to community service, with a focus on youth empowerment and supporting vulnerable groups. To continue this and other impactful projects, we are seeking sponsorships and partnerships with organizations that share our vision.
For more information on how to partner with us or sponsor future initiatives, reach out to us on Instagram at (@lagos_apexleoclub) or send an email to lagosapexleo9@gmail.com
Service First: Creating a Lasting Impact!
What Is LEO Clubs?
Leo clubs encourage young people to engage in social service projects as a means of developing their leadership skills. They rely on a Lions club to provide the funding and start a Leo club. Members of the Leo Club are called “Leos.” They work on a number of projects related to health care, education and literacy, children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and self-development.
Leos can raise funds by conducting fund-raising projects. They can work on projects with an outside organization, a sponsoring Lions club, or another Leo club. An official program of Lions Clubs International, Leo clubs are sponsored by Lions clubs. LEO Club, with more than 160,000 members worldwide and a presence in 140 countries, is the largest youth club with a volunteer focus.
History of LEO
Jim Graver, the baseball coach at Abington High School in Pennsylvania, started the first Leo club in 1957. He participated actively in the Glenside Lions Club. With the assistance of William Ernst, another local Lion, the club was established. It took on the maroon and gold colors of the high school. The club also came up with the acronym LEO, which stands for Leadership, Equality, and Opportunity. Later, the term “equality” was changed to “experience.”
The Lions district began sponsoring the Leo Club Program in 1964. Its reach extended beyond Pennsylvania and the US. The program became an official youth program of Lions Clubs International in 1967 after expanding to over 200 clubs in 18 countries. The Leo Club Program rapidly expanded the following year, more than quadrupling in size to 918 clubs in 48 nations by the end of 1968.
What is the purpose of joining the Leo club?
Lions Clubs International has a youth organization called Leo Clubs. L E O stands for opportunity, leadership, and experience.
Giving young people around the world “…an opportunity for development and contribution, individually and collectively, as responsible members of the local, national, and international community” is the Leo Club’s core objective.
