White Cane
History:
In 1921, James Biggs, a photographer from Bristol, England, became blind. Feeling uncomfortable with the amount of traffic around his home, he painted his walking stick white, to be more easily visible.
In 1930, Lion George A. Bonham, President of the Peoria IL Lions Club introduced the idea of using the white cane with a red band as a means of assisting the blind in independent mobility. White canes were made and distributed and the Peoria City Council adopted an ordinance giving the bearers the right-of-way to cross the street.
News of the club’s activity spread quickly to other Lions clubs throughout the United States and they experimented with white canes, with overwhelming acceptance, giving cane users a unique method of identifying their special need.
Also in 1931, in France, Guilly d’Herbemont recognized the danger to blind people in traffic and launched a national “white stick movement” for blind people. She donated 5,000 white canes to people in Paris.
Today, white cane laws are on the books of every state in the US and in a few other countries.
White Cane Day:
International White Cane Safety Day is an opportunity to increase awareness by:
- Signifying that the pedestrian is blind or visually impaired.
- Alerting motorists of the need to exercise special caution and provide the user the right of way.
- Symbolizing the independence, confidence, and skills of the person who is using it.
In 1964, the U.S. Congress approved a resolution authorizing the US President to annually issue a proclamation designating October 15th as “National White Cane Safety Day. In 1969, the International Federation of the Blind adopted this date.
In our District:
Chair: Lion Jeri-Lyn Thomas Aquia Harbour Host -- jerilyn.thomas@yahoo.com
In 2025, the following clubs participated in White Cane events:
- Zone A – Alexandria Lincolnia, Mount Vernon Evening
- Zone C – Leesburg Host
- Zone D – Reston
- Zone E – Manassas Host, Montclair
- Zone F – Aquia Evening, Aquia Harbour Host, Greater Falls Run, Stafford County
- Zone H – Rappahannock
- Zone I – Palymyra-Rivanna
- Zone J – Elkton
- Zone K – Winchester Host
- Zone L – Front Royal, Woodstock
- Zone M – Broadway
- Zone N – Staunton
Winchester -- A great article was published in The Winchester Gazette.
Reston -- On Saturday, September 20, Lions were at the North Point Giant from 10am-2pm and raised about $750. They also sold VA Peanuts, last year's leftover White House Ornaments, and took donations. They had a club handout, Foundation Fighting Blindness and Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind brochures. (That is where Davida got Chubb.)
A key takeaway from the day -- be pleasantly aggressive on saying hello to people and explaining who you are and why you are there. The volunteer working the afternoon shift did that and it made a big difference. When she saw people wearing glasses, she even told them about our recycling efforts.
Greater Falls Run -- White Cane Day in October ran from 9am-3pm outside of a local Giant supermarket. They raised a little over $500 sitting outside and educating folks as to what the day was all about.
Stafford -- The White Cane Service Activity held in July raised $445 which will be used towards programs for the visually impaired.
Staunton -- White Cane Day was held in October at the local Lowe’s store, raising $100.
Palmyra-Rivanna -- Five Lions worked 3 shifts in front of the Lake Monticello Food Lion, raising $327 and if there were more volunteers, the club would have also set up in front of Ace Hardware. Instead of selling brooms the club gave out nearly new eyeglass cases received with eyeglass donations and Lions ear plugs. In addition to donations, that generated conversation.
Upcoming White Cane Events:
- Stafford Lions Club - May 2026
- Aquia Harbour Host and Aquia Evening Lions - May 2026
- Montclair - Spring 2026