The Friday Flyer • November 17, 2017

CANYON LAKE’S NEWSPAPER • NOVEMBER 17, 2017
Temescal Canyon tennis team wins CIF chamionship title Pg. A7
Thankful for
grandson's gift
of guide dog
Enjoy Golf Cart Drive- in Movie Night tonight at Sierra Park Pg. A9
Santa to visit JWC Holiday Boutique tomorrow Pg. A10
BY DONNA RITCHIE
EDITOR, THE FRIDAY FLYER
Garrett Serfey became legally blind at 16-months-old due to lack of oxygen to his brain. As he grew older, his con- dition worsened to the point that he has to wear protective eyeglasses and use a cane. When not at school, Garrett didn’t want to wear his glasses or use his cane. “Sometimes he would, sometimes he wouldn’t. That’s where the challenge was,” said his grandfather Rich Moline, a long time Canyon Lake resident.
Concerned for Garrett, Rich came up with a plan and offered his grandson an incentive to wear his protective glasses. “I told him that if he would wear them I would see about getting him on the list for a seeing-eye dog,” Rich said. The incentive worked and Garrett held up to his end of the bargain.
Rich reached out to Canyon Lake Lions Club member Phil Coughlin for help. Phil contacted Guide Dogs of the Desert, an organization he’s supported through his 36 years of work with the Lions Club. Guide Dogs of the Des- ert provides custom trained guide dogs for the blind and for those with special needs, for safe mobility, companionship and independence. The dog’s training, student’s training and accommodations at the training facility are funded by private donations and clubs, such as the Lions Club.
Guide Dogs of the Desert informed Phil that the recipient of the dog had to be at least 18 years of age, which meant Garrett would have to wait eight more years for a seeing-eye dog. This was dis- appointing news for Garrett.
A few weeks later, Rich’s wife Dar- lene met a woman who was training a seeing-eye dog in Nevada and discussed the situation with her. The woman told Darlene about Guide Dogs of the Des- ert’s “career change” dogs. “These are the dogs that don’t pass all the tests to graduate to seeing-eye dogs,” said Rich.
That evening, Rich visited the or- ganization’s website and submitted an
online application for Garrett. A
Guide Dog of the Desert repre- sentative called the following day
to say they had a perfect match
for Garret. Moya, a two-year-old Labrador, was available immedi- ately. Moya was fully trained but
did not graduate because she failed
the heavy traffic test. “She hates cars,” said Rich. Since Garrett is never around heavy traffic alone, this was not an issue for the family.
The next day, Garrett’s family picked up Moya and brought her home. “She’s part of the family now,” said Rich.
It’s been three months since Moya joined the family and she and Garrett have formed quite a bond. “It’s been life-changing,” said Rich. “Garrett’s social interaction, independence, con- fidence and personality all have grown since he’s been around Moya.”
Rich is grateful to the Lions and Lion- ess Clubs and thankful for those who do- nate to them. “This success is a direct re- sult of the efforts made by them and the residents in Canyon Lake,” said Rich. “None of this magic and blessings could have happened without the support of donations to these clubs,” he said.
The Canyon Lake Lions Club offers residents an opportunity to serve their community. The club, formed in 1975, is one of the first clubs to be formed in Canyon Lake. It’s one of 46,000 Li- ons Clubs with an estimated 1,400,000 members in 171 countries around the world. Their motto is, “We Serve.”
The funds for the Canyon Lake Li- ons Club’s charitable work are raised through its annual events: White Cane Day, Pancake Breakfast and Golf Tour- nament. A portion of the proceeds from the club’s annual Golf Tournament is donated to Guide Dogs of the Desert. “Guide Dogs of the Desert is a wonder- ful organization, it’s a charity we believe in” said Rich, who has been donating to the organization through the Lions Club years before Garrett was even born. Nev- er did he imagine that one day he would
need their ser- vices for his own family.
The Lions international organization is best known for its work with people who are sight or hearing impaired. The Canyon Lake Lions Club collects new and used eyeglasses as part of a state- wide effort to help those with vision problems. The club sets up a collection table in the Towne Center once a year. Residents who wish to donate unwanted glasses throughout the year can do so by placing them in the donations boxes lo- cated at the Canyon Lake Country Club and Pack, Wrap & Post in the Towne Center.
The collected eyeglasses are deliv- ered to the regional Lions eyeglass re-
Garrett Serey received the gift of
a guide dog with the help of
his grand- father Rich Moline and
Lions member
Phil Cough- lin. Garrett is
pictured with his guide dog Moya, Phil, and Lioness Nancy
Coughlin.
cycling centers where volunteers clean, sort by prescription strength and pack- age them. The recycled glasses are then distributed to people in need in develop- ing countries where they will have the greatest impact. For more information about Lions Recycle for Sight, visit li- onseyes.org or californialionsfriendsin- sight.org.
The Canyon Lake Lions Club invites residents to join them in serving the community. The club meets monthly on the second Thursday at 7 p.m. in the
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PHOTO PROVIDED BY RICH MOLINE