Lions Club Jump-a-Thon a success

The Annual Lions Club Jump-A-Thon went off without a hitch, providing Jacksboro Elementary students exercise for a good cause when they went to the gym on Thursday.

The Jump-A-Thon raises money for the Texas Lions Camp, a camp for children with physical or mental disabilities which they can attend at no cost to the camper. Lions Club Treasurer Tim Cassle said he has been helping with the event for a very long time.

“Thirty-eight years,” Cassle said. “I’m the chairman of it, and even though the Lions Club started it I’ve been in charge of it every since.”

The event involves the elementary students receiving packets and collecting pledges, with various amounts getting different rewards. Cassle said this event raises money solely for a camp for disables children.

“All of the money from this event is put in a designated fund to donate to the Lions Camp,” Cassle said. “We have other events that are undesignated so the money raised from them can go to things like eye exams or the food pantry, but This event really helps out the children who may not get an opportunity to leave home. We helped a Jacksboro child go to camp last year and that was his first time away from his family.”

Also at the event was Aaron Hannah, Jacksboro elementary principal and Vice President of the Lions Club. He said the event was an important part of raising money and awareness for the things the Lions Club helps within the community.

“The high point of the week is obviously when the volunteers come and help [with] the jumping, which is the featured event,” Hannah said. “But the whole community gets to see their children jumping around and the children get to see us.”

The event has raised as much as around $5,000 for the club, but Cassle expects the number to be closer to $1,000 this year., due to the changes in the economy over the past decade. He also wanted to remind people that the money people give does not have to be part of the event.

“We meet every second and fourth Wednesday of the month,” he said. If someone wants to come by and donate to this, or any other need the community has, we would be happy to allow them to do that. They can talk to any Lions Club member and they will help them out.”