Lichfield Lions' unusual cowpat fundraiser raises money for children's eye tests
The annual Cowpat Drop raised money towards a £6,000 eye-screening camera to help identify potential eyesight problems in young children
An unusual charity fundraiser involving cows, a field and a lot of careful watching has helped Lichfield Lions raise money towards a special camera to screen children's eyesight.
The Lions' annual Cowpat Drop saw 1,800 raffle tickets sold, with the main beneficiary this year being a campaign to buy a specialist eye-screening camera for children in Lichfield.
The event took place at Hall Farm, where farmer Colin Smith provided the field, cows and his time.
The raffle tickets and their stubs were unnumbered, with the stubs mixed up before being randomly drawn and numbered. The ticket numbers were then matched to a grid of the field, with each number corresponding to a different square.
A small herd of cows was released and the first cowpat, spotted by Mr Smith after just 10 minutes, determined the winner. Eight neighbouring squares were used to identify the runners-up.
The winner was offered a choice between the cash prize and the cowpat itself, but opted for the money.
The money raised will support the Lions' campaign to buy a dedicated camera costing £6,000 to screen the eyesight of young children.
The camera takes an image of the back of a child's eyes from about one metre away, without the need for eye drops or physical contact.
It provides a simple 'pass' or 'refer' result, with parents of children referred for further checks advised to arrange a free visit to an optician.
The Lions hope to work with schools in Lichfield to offer the screening to reception-aged children, with parental permission.
The camera is designed to help identify potential eyesight problems that might otherwise go undetected. However, Lichfield Lions currently have to borrow equipment and want to raise enough money to buy their own.
The club has thanked everyone who bought a Cowpat Drop ticket, particularly winners who donated their prizes back to charity, as well as Mr Smith for his support.
Lichfield Lions is part of Lions Clubs International, a community service organisation supporting local communities.