Scare dollars will benefit vision issues

Published 12:00 am Sunday, November 14, 2004

Scaring people is what the Ironton Lions Club does best, but nothing is frightening about how the civic organization helps the community.

Wrapping up the cleanup Saturday, the 2004 Haunted Tunnel was called an overwhelming success. More than 3,600 people braved the tunnel for a good cause and helped the Lions raise more than $15,000 that it will put back into the community, Lions member Judge Frank McCown said at a recent meeting.

"We want to make the community a better place to live," McCown "You were all doing that along with the help of our tremendous volunteers."

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For the first time this year, the Lions partnered with Ohio University Southern students who volunteered to fill the tunnel with all its "monsters."

More than 70 volunteers worked at least one night and a dozen worked all nine days of the event.

"I am very proud of our club and the volunteers. This was truly a building year, a starting over because we changed so many things," club president Lou Pyles said. "It shows what you can accomplish when everyone works together."

But don't think the club just fill its coffers with the proceeds. All the money will go towards charitable projects including annual scholarships, area charities and organizations such as the Briggs Lawrence County Public Library, Open Door School and the City Welfare Mission.

This year, $7,500 will go to sponsor a pilot dog for someone who is vision impaired. The club has been working hard on the tunnel since July, but knowing that the money goes to a cause like this makes it worth while, Pyles said.

"To be able to help even one person have some of their independence back, I would do this every month," she said.

McCown said the true measure of success was the smiles that

the club members received as rewards.

"This brought us all together and it was kind of nice to see us all doing something fun together," McCown said. "Parents would come up and thank us. I never had so many 'thank yous.' We got lots of hugs, too."