‘YOUR eyesight should never be taken for granted.’ Those are the words from Sharon Oates, a passionate advocate for the Lions Ride for Sight fundraiser and a member of ‘Team Sisters’ (Willmott girls). After their third consecutive ride, they raised over $40,000 for The Centre of Eye Research Australia (CERA).
In their 31st year, the Inverloch & District Lions Club participated in the annual Lions Ride for Sight, and this year’s ride coincides with the highly anticipated Lions Eye Health Night on Wednesday, May 28, at the Wonthaggi Workmen’s Club.
Organiser and eldest ‘sister,’ Sharon, said that the Willmott family’s involvement is deeply personal. “Our whole family is affected by macular degeneration,” said Sharon. “Dad is legally blind from Geographic Atrophy (GA), Mum receives eye injections every six to eight weeks for wet AMD, and my sisters and I are all showing early signs. It’s genetic and worrying, but we’re doing something about it.”
Team Sisters aims to donate $50,000 this year to The Centre of Eye Research Australia (CERA). Their impressive fundraising journey began three years ago, with a record-breaking $30,000 in their first ride.
“We’ve already hit $42,600,” Sharon said proudly. “The Eye Health Night will help us hit the $50,000 goal. If we succeed, we’ll have raised $100,000 in just three years.”
The Lions Eye Health Night will feature internationally renowned experts, including Professor Robyn Guymer AM, Deputy Director of the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA), and a world authority on age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Also presenting will be Associate Professor Rick Lui, whose groundbreaking gene therapy research could eliminate the need for frequent eye injections.
“Rick is working on a treatment that will transform the treatment from injections into an eye drop. It’s incredibly exciting for Mum,” said Sharon.
Attendees will also view a powerful video shown to the Federal Government in 2024, highlighting the impact of Geographic Atrophy (GA) on the Willmott family.
The 31st Lions Ride for Sight took place over four days, covering 270 kilometres, with 36 riders aged 34 to 80. “That means the average rider was 67 years old,” Sharon said. Among them were four visually impaired riders on tandem bikes—an emotional highlight for many.
“The tandem teams were inspiring,” Sharon said. “The front rider would describe the landscape to the blind partner, creating a visual picture for them. It’s a reminder not to take sight for granted.”
The ride concluded alongside the Lions Multi-District Convention, where Team Sisters were publicly recognized by CERA for their contributions.
All funds raised go directly to CERA, ranked among the top five ophthalmology research centres in the world and entirely reliant on donations.
“There’s no government funding,” said Sharon. The Willmott sisters fundraise for CERA because they believe in the power of research and shared that if they can help stop someone else from losing their sight, it’s worth every kilometre.
Event Details:
• Lions Eye Health Night
• Date: Wednesday, May 28, 2025
• Time: 6:00 PM
• Location: Wonthaggi Workmen’s Club, 75 Graham St, Wonthaggi
• RSVP by: Thursday, May 22
• Bookings: Via QR code or contact Sharon Oates on 0417 101 998
Seats are limited—book now to support vital eye health research and hear from the world’s leading experts.
