The Minnesota Lions Hearing Foundation annual walk to raise funds for research on hearing loss is set for Saturday, June 1, in Bemidji. This D-Feet Walk for Hearing Loss is two miles from Diamond Point Park to the Paul & Babe statue and back. Walk-up registration for $25 begins at 8:30 at Diamond Point Park, and the walk starts at 9:30. Kids under 12 are free. After their walk, participants will be given lunch and entertained by live music and games for kids.
The walk raises funds for the Lions’ partner, the University of Minnesota, to conduct research, provide services, and conduct outreach about hearing. Minnesota Lions have raised more than $7 million to support University research and the establishment of several programs to help with hearing loss.
A current focus is to help those who may not even know they have a hearing problem, no matter their age. The Minnesota Hearing Foundation made Minnesota the first state nationwide to screen newborn babies for hearing problems in all hospitals. At the other end of the age spectrum, because research has found that as people get older, hearing loss can contribute to dementia, the Foundation is pursuing an affordable portable hearing screening device in the hope that screenings can be done at local community events and schools.
The Minnesota Lions Hearing Foundation is a nonprofit organization supported by Lions Club members across Minnesota. The more than 600 Lions Clubs in Minnesota are part of Lions Club International, the largest service club organization in the world, with 1.4 million members serving in 200 countries and geographic areas worldwide.
