Projects
Health & Wellbeing
Fighting Prostate Cancer with Annual testing
Each year the Highworth and District Lions conduct a Prostate-Specific-Antigen (PSA) screening event, in partnership with the charity CHAPS, Highworth Town Council and healthcare provider Sirkka. In 2026 we also partnered with the Lechlade Lions to extend the reach to men outside the Highworth area.
Our primary aim is to save lives, raise awareness of prostate cancer and encourage early detection among local men. Those attending give a small amount of blood for testing and receive valuable information about prostate health, risk factors, symptoms and the importance of regular testing.
As a result of the analysis, some are advised to seek immediate follow-up with their GP for urgent assessment, while others are given the all clear. Early screening shows the vital role community partnerships can play in awareness, prevention and early diagnosis.
To find a local screening event near you - click hereFeedback from a local resident
I am 63 years old, fit and well, with no previous symptoms at all. On 25 April, I was one of 14 men tested that received an elevated result. Over the past 10 years, I have been tested at least six times previously – and every result was normal.
After this latest result, I went straight to my GP, who arranged two further PSA tests; both also came back elevated. I was then referred for an MRI scan, which showed something unusual, so I proceeded to have a biopsy – all carried out at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford. Today I received the final results confirming I have prostate cancer. However, it has been graded as low-risk and localised, which is very good news.
I will receive a call next week outlining the treatment options available to me, and I will take things from there.
Thank you so much to you, the Lions and CHAPS – this caught the condition early. With Oxford a leading urology centre, I am fully confident of a swift, complete recovery.
Number of Highworth and Lechlade men tested in 2026
- 0
- 14.4% referred to GP
Infant and Junior Vision Testing
The Highworth and District Lions are introducing free vision testing in local primary schools, with Eastrop Infant School being the very first to take part in this new initiative. Our long-term aim is to expand the scheme to more schools across the area and offer the service every year specifically to all new-intake pupils.
Many parents do not realise that children in full-time education are legally entitled to free sight tests and, where needed, subsidised or free glasses. Experts agree the most critical window for detecting sight problems is before age eight — and young children often cannot recognise or explain that they have a vision issue. When diagnosed early enough, many common eye conditions can be effectively managed, treated, or even completely cured, preventing long-term learning and development difficulties.
For detailed information - click hereLions International: Lighting Up Lives Through Vision Care
Lions International flagship initiative, SightFirst, tackles preventable and reversible blindness by funding free eye screenings, affordable prescription glasses, and life-changing cataract surgeries. In remote and low-income communities where medical facilities are scarce, volunteer teams travel to deliver care directly to people’s doorsteps.
For Lions International, clear vision is not just a health goal—it is a way to unlock opportunity and build brighter futures for all.
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