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Thank You for Joining Us for the 4th Annual Braille Trail Walk!

Lions Services
Thank You for Joining Us for the 4th Annual Braille Trail Walk!

The 2026 Braille Trail Walk for Independence was made possible because so many people and organizations believed in our mission and chose to support Lions Services. With everyone's incredible support, the Braille Trail Walk raised a record $100,852, exceeding our $100,000 goal! We had over 500 attendees this year.

To our incredible sponsors- Thank YOU! Your generosity helped make this day possible and allows us to continue creating opportunities for people who are blind and low vision to build confidence, independence, and brighter futures.

To our employees, Board of Directors, Advancement Committee, Walk Committee, vendors, partners, volunteers, donors, participants, and community supporters -thank you for showing up and being part of such a special day.

This Walk is about more than one day. It is about what can happen when a community comes together to support independence and create opportunities for people with vision loss.

Dr. Steven Ryder, of Horizon Eye Care, our incredible title sponsor, shared this powerful quote that perfectly captures the heart and impact of the Braille Trail Walk.

“It takes organizations providing rehabilitation, education, technology, employment, and support. It takes families, friends, volunteers, and an entire community helping people live independently and confidently.”

  • ⭐Thank you for believing in our mission.
  • ⭐Thank you for investing in our community.
  • ⭐Thank you for helping us make a difference.

Moments from the Walk

Thank you to Aaron Libby Photography for capturing the photos of the event.

Two people wearing Lions Club emblems, one in a yellow vest covered in pins and one in an orange polo, stand with a walker in a pink 2026 Braille Trail Walk shirt under the event tents.
Lions Club members on hand to welcome walkers.
A group of young volunteers in pink walk shirts and blue lanyards smile around a bright blue picnic table.
Young volunteers at the picnic tables.
A group of volunteers in pink walk shirts and blue volunteer lanyards smile in front of a colorful mural on the Lions Services building.
Our volunteers, ready for the day.
Four people in pink 2026 walk shirts stand smiling behind a check-in table in front of the blue Lions Services building; one holds blue lanyards.
Smiles at the check-in table.
Four smiling walkers in pink 2026 walk shirts, including Mrs. North Carolina in her crown and sash, pose together near the event tents.
Friends old and new before the walk.
Mrs. North Carolina, in her crown and sash, smiles with a walker in a cap as the crowd gathers behind them.
Mrs. North Carolina joined the walkers.
In early morning sun, guides in bright green Achilles shirts and walkers in pink shirts talk in the parking lot; one guide holds a white cane.
Guides and walkers meet up in the morning sun.
Two walkers in pink 2026 walk shirts sit at a long white table under the event tents.
Settling in under the tents.
Three walkers in pink shirts gather at a white table, one leaning in close with an arm around a friend in sunglasses.
Good company before the walk.
A large group in bright green Achilles shirts, several marked GUIDE, poses with walkers in pink shirts; a few hold white canes.
The Achilles guides team.
Two smiling walkers in pink 2026 walk shirts sit on a blue bench; one holds a white cane.
Taking a seat before the start.
Four walkers stand together by a fence; one in a blue cap holds a white cane, and two wear pink 2026 walk shirts.
Walking together.
A man in a pink 2026 Braille Trail Walk shirt speaks into a microphone in front of the blue Lions Services building, with the DJ table behind him.
Welcoming everyone to the 2026 walk.
Seen over the shoulder of a walker in a pink shirt, a speaker with a microphone addresses the crowd beside the Braille Trail Walk banner.
The crowd listens in.
A speaker in a black Horizon Eye Care shirt talks into a microphone beside a speaker stand while walkers in pink shirts look on.
Sharing a few words before the walk.
A woman in a pink 2026 walk shirt holds a microphone and a white cane as she speaks to the crowd in front of the blue Lions Services building.
Speaking to the crowd before the start.
Wide view of the ribbon cutting, with the blue ribbon stretched across the walk route and a large crowd in pink shirts gathered behind it beside the Lions Services building.
The crowd gathers for the ribbon cutting.
A group of walkers and two fluffy dogs pose on the grass in front of the large green and white 360 sculpture.
Four-legged friends joined in too.
Four walkers in pink shirts stand beside the large green and white 360 sculpture, whose zero is shaped like an eye.
At the 360 sculpture on the Braille Trail.
A large crowd in pink and light blue shirts gathers in front of the Lions Services building, whose wall reads INSIGHT in braille dots and letters.
The crowd gathers outside Lions Services.
A crowd of walkers in pink and blue shirts lines up for a group photo behind the large 360 sculpture.
The 2026 walkers, all together.
Wide view of the walk crowd lined up across the parking lot, with the 360 sculpture and the Lions Services building behind them.
Over 500 attendees joined us this year.
The walk sets off: walkers in pink shirts, several using white canes, head down the path with Mrs. North Carolina among them.
And they are off!
Walkers in pink shirts set off along a sidewalk painted with colorful dots, several using white canes.
Setting off down the trail.
A walker in a gray shirt uses a white cane alongside a guide in a yellow safety vest.
A guide keeps pace with a walker.
Walkers in pink 2026 shirts, two using white canes, stride down a sidewalk lined with trees and apartment buildings.
On the trail.
Three walkers in pink shirts walk arm in arm and smile at the camera, with more walkers and two dogs behind them.
Arm in arm along the route.
A police officer on a bicycle rides along a residential street during the walk.
Keeping walkers safe along the route.
Walkers reach out to touch tall metal and glass sculptures with raised studs along the Braille Trail.
Exploring the tactile sculptures along the Braille Trail.
Walkers cross a footbridge on a paved path; one uses a white cane, and a tan dog walks alongside.
Crossing the footbridge.
Supporters in a red golf cart cheer the walkers on, one with a megaphone and one taking a photo with her phone.
Cheering everyone on.
Three walkers on a sidewalk: a man in a green Achilles shirt using a white cane, a laughing woman in the middle, and a man in sunglasses.
Plenty of smiles on the route.
A line of walkers on a tree-lined sidewalk, led by a woman with a white cane and a guide in an Achilles GUIDE shirt; a small dog walks beside them.
Guides and walkers side by side.
Two smiling walkers in pink 2026 walk shirts walk side by side, with others behind them.
Step by step.
Two women in pink walk shirts walk arm in arm, laughing; one uses a white cane.
Sharing a laugh on the walk.
Walkers in pink and blue shirts pass a modern dark gray building with string lights overhead.
Rounding the corner along the route.
Three walkers stroll down a sidewalk beside a brick building, two using white canes, with a long line of walkers behind them.
The line of walkers stretched down the street.
A smiling man and woman in pink walk shirts stroll arm in arm along a sunny path, with more walkers behind them.
All smiles on the trail.
Walkers stretch along a curving path past new apartment buildings.
The walk winds through the neighborhood.
A woman in a purple shirt and a man in a pink walk shirt, both with headphones around their necks, walk arm in arm through the parking lot.
Heading back together.
Two people stand in front of the 360 sculpture while others peek through the eye in the zero and lounge in the curve of the three.
Having fun on the 360 sculpture.
A large group in pink walk shirts poses on the grass in front of the 360 sculpture.
One more group photo at the 360 sculpture.
The Horizon Eye Care team, in black Horizon shirts, poses with walkers in front of the 360 sculpture.
Our title sponsor, Horizon Eye Care.
A smiling volunteer in a purple walk shirt holds up two bottles of water at the water station.
Cold water ready for walkers.
Walkers relax at long tables under tents after the walk, with a food truck in the background.
Food and fellowship after the walk.
A DJ in a pink shirt and cap works the turntables at a table beside the blue Lions Services building.
Our DJ kept the music going.
A group in blue Limitless Para Athletes shirts stands together after the walk; one holds a gift basket.
Limitless Para Athletes at the finish.
Mrs. North Carolina holds a wrapped gift basket between two men in blue Limitless Para Athletes shirts.
Celebrating with Mrs. North Carolina.

Our Sponsors

Braille Trail Walk for Independence sponsors. Title: Horizon Eye Care. Gold: Sablewood Towns, Rely Workforce Group, Opkalla. Silver: Main Street Insurance Group, Novant Health, Oakworth Capital Bank, HIS Radio 96.5, Triple C Brewing Co., The Independent Picture House, Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Aaron Libby Photography, Texcel Industries. Bronze: Ceenta, Sprouts Farmers Market, J-Tex Industries, Hood Hargett, Skyla Credit Union, Lake Norman Lions Club, Mint Hill Lions Club. Pearl: DEX Imaging, Showmars, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services, ReME, Kendra and Al Dodds, Lauren and Wilson McCrory, Killingsworth Family, Murph Family, Daudelin Family, Majocha Family, Charlotte Southern Lions Club, Davidson-Huntersville Lions Club.
A smiling volunteer in a pink walk shirt stands beside the Sablewood table under a white tent.
Sablewood
Four people in pink walk shirts stand at the Rely Workforce Group tent, with a prize wheel and a Rely banner listing their services.
Rely Workforce Group
Two people sit behind The Independent Picture House table, set with giveaways.
The Independent Picture House
Two staff members stand at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services table with informational posters.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services
Five people stand behind the purple Mint Hill Lions Club table stacked with folded blue shirts.
Mint Hill Lions Club
A staff member stands at the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation table, beside a Therapeutic and Inclusive Recreation Services banner and a prize wheel.
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation
A woman stands beside a teal Non-24 table displaying Living with Non-24 booklets.
Non-24

Thank you to our In-Kind Sponsors:

  • Auto Bell - Snack Table
  • Niagara Cares - Water Table
  • Roasted Tinto Coffee - Coffee Table
Lions Services thank you graphic: Autobell Car Wash, for sponsoring the Braille Trail Walk for Independence snack table.Lions Services thank you graphic: Roasted Tinto Colombian Coffee, for sponsoring the Braille Trail Walk for Independence coffee station.Lions Services thank you graphic: Niagara Cares, for sponsoring the Braille Trail Walk for Independence water station.

A HUGE thank you to our Top Fundraisers for the 2026 Braille Trail Walk for Independence!

Top 5 Individual Fundraisers:

Spotlight on the TOP 2 Fundraisers!

  • Larry Killingsworth - In Memory of Mike Killingsworth - $1,550
  • Robert Callender - Callender's Fundraising Team - $1,186
  • Philip Murph - Murph's Movers - $625
  • Agatha Bisbikis - Agatha's Vision Warriors - $450
  • Brittany Johnson - Wally's World - $275

Top 3 Fundraiser Teams:

  • Kendra Dodds - The Trail Blazers - $900
  • Christina Phillips - DeeGee's Do Good - $350
  • Deanna Evans - Charlotte International Rotary Club - $300

Largest Walk Teams:

  • Susan O'Brien - Waxhaw Lions Prowl & Growl - 14 members
  • Jay Russell - The Jay Walkers - 14 members
  • Agatha's Vision Warriors - 10 members
  • Deanna Evans - Charlotte International Rotary - 9 members
  • Larry Tate - CLT Southern Lions Club - 9 members

Creative Fundraiser Promotions on Social Media:

  • Annie Burris - Team Crickett
  • Kristen Amidi - Vision in Bloom

Your dedication, support, and fundraising efforts helped make this year's walk a tremendous success. We are so grateful for each of you who went above and beyond to support Lions Services and the people we serve.

Thank you for helping us make a difference!

Scan for your photos: a QR code that opens the event photo gallery, with the Aaron Libby Photography logo below it.

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