Every year the Leeds Lions club organise a German exchange trip for teenagers with disabilities. Last summer we reported that the Leeds Lions managed to send nine young people to Germany to the Bad Sooden Allendorf Lions where they all had a fantastic time.
This year it was the turn of the German youngsters to come here to Leeds and several of the Lions clubs in the area have worked together to ensure the teens thoroughly enjoyed their visit, with a jam-packed fun itinerary. The teenagers all have disabilities, and as like last year when our youngsters went to Germany, for many of them it was their first ever holiday abroad. The trips are fully funded for the teens by the fund raising efforts of Leeds Lions supported by other Lions Clubs in the district.
Staying at Hinsley Hall in Headingley, the young people enjoyed visits to the York Railway Museum, Bolton Abbey, Brimham Rocks, Knaresborough, the Royal Armouries and Canal Gardens at Roundhay Park. They also met the Lord Mayor at the Civic Hall. Through the week they were also treated to a fish and chip supper, a BBQ and on their final evening here, a farewell disco.
Caroline Fields, a member of Leeds Lions and one of the event organisers said “This exchange gives youths with disabilities the chance of a holiday which most have never had before and also gives them the opportunity to make new friends. This was all thanks to Leeds Lions, Leeds Skyrack Lions, Knaresborough Lions, Harrogate Lions and Otley Lions who all provided days out for them to remember and gave them memories to last a lifetime.”
The charitable work done by the Lions is clearly fantastic and they are to be commended for all that they do for their local communities and worthwhile causes. We hope that all the teens from Germany had a wonderful time here in Yorkshire – it certainly sounds like it!
