Chuck's Travels; April 26, 2017

Vision to Learn

One out of every four children has a vision problem. Couple that statistic with this one: 80% of learning happens within the first 12 years of life. Now, look around any school: Are a quarter of the children wearing eyeglasses? Sometimes the expense of prescription eyeglasses is standing between a child and his opportunity to get as much as he can out of his education. Vision to Learn is an organization, which provides free eye exams and free eyeglasses to school children throughout Southern California. The Rotary Club of Redondo Beach has partnered with Vision to Learn for several years and joins the organization in giving eye exams to Redondo Beach children at our area schools. The highlight of this experience is when the Vision to Learn truck rolls up and fits the children with their new eyeglasses: Eye-opening in so many ways. The Rotary Club of Redondo Beach gave a check for $2000 to this worthy organization to continue their vital work in our community.

Peripheral Artery Exams to Benefit Rotary

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a narrowing of the peripheral arteries. It can be found in the stomach, arms and head, but most commonly in the legs.

Most people mistake the symptoms of PAD for something else. The symptoms include pain, cramping or tiredness while walking or climbing stairs. Left untreated, PAD leaves an individual at greater risk of coronary artery disease, heart attack and stroke. Left untreated, PAD can lead to gangrene and even amputation.

Smokers, diabetics, people with high blood pressure or high cholesterol are at greater risk of developing PAD. Also, the risk of PAD increases with age.

Redondo Beach Rotarian Dr. Peters has offered to perform PAD exams to our members. Half of the $200 cost will be donated to the Rotary Club of Redondo Beach. Please contact Dr. Peters’ office and make your appointment today!

Chuck Anderson, Merida, Mexico

Redondo Beach Rotarian and 2008 Rotary District 5280 Governor Chuck Anderson is one of our most active and globetrotting members. Chuck shared with us a recent trip to the city of Merida, Mexico. Merida, located on the end of the Yucatan peninsula, has a rich culture and history reaching back thousands of years. The people of Merida maintain a close connection to their Mayan history. The local Yucatec Maya dialect will be very unfamiliar to Spanish speakers: It is a living connection to the time before Columbus arrived. Called the “White City”, Merida is home to many beautiful buildings from the colonial era.

While the sightseeing is well worth it (including the must-see Mayan ruins and a swim in an underground (!) spring), Chuck and his fellow Rotarians took the opportunity of this trip to come to the aid of the community. The Emmanuel preschool was in need of a safe and enriching play area, as well as a few other upgrades. Rotarians contributed to revamping the play area and painting the bathrooms. The ground is very hard in Merida, but planting trees in a local park was also on the list. The Coby Bachelor Degree School was provided sewing machines, fabric and rent to assist in fostering vocational education. In addition, Rotary is assisting in medical outreach to the community. Chuck, as he has done in many other countries, at many other Rotary projects, and to hundreds of children around the world, distributed his “signature” Chuckles candy and plush toys.