Bermuda has been challenged by the Bronx to raise $5,000 to benefit a children's hospital in New York which has treated many locals.

Should the local fundraising and the associated international effort be successful, children from around the world may benefit through the hospital's international programmes.

The challenge was put to the Hamilton Lions club by member Stuart Pearson during the club's weekly luncheon last week.

Mr. Pearson explained that Bermuda is part of the same Lion's district as the Bronx - where the Montefiore Hospital is located - and that the two clubs have a long history of working together.

In particular, Mr. Pearson said that one member of the Bronx Lion's Club - Marty Grossman - and his family have had a long involvement with the Montefiore Hospital and Bermuda.

For decades, Mr. Pearson said the Grossmans have welcomed Bermudians who were being treated at the hospital into their home and cared for them like one would for family.

He said that he personally had experienced the warmth and generosity of the Grossmans when he was treated at the hospital.

While he was there alone, he said, the Grossmans were housing and caring for six Bermudians in the area to be treated for illnesses. These people were unknown to the Grossman family, but they still did everything they could to help out.

The Montefiore hospital has recently opened the Novatis International Centre for Child Health.

That centre is committed to providing quality care to children in need from around the world, Mr. Pearson said.

Although it opened only one year ago, it has already treated children from such far corners of the world as Argentina, China and Norway.

Mr. Pearson said the centre has arranged heart operations for Chinese orphans from Shanghai and performed a tricky, 12-hour operation to remove a brain tumour from a young Norwegian girl.

In addition to providing surgery and treatment in the Bronx, however, the centre is building a state-of-the-art conference facility which will allow its surgeons to communicate with hospitals around the globe to assist with medical treatment.

It is this conference centre in particular to which Lions have been asked to contribute.

The overall goal for the Lions district of which Bermuda is a member is to raise $75,000 Mr. Pearson said.

If successful, Lion's Club International Foundation (LCIF) has committed to match the amount with an additional $75,000.

Mr. Pearson said the Bronx club - one of the most successful and active in the United States - has already raised $30,000 on its own.

Other clubs in the district have contributed $15,000 putting the organisation just $30,000 from its goal.

Mr. Pearson said that if Bermuda meets the $5,000 challenge, the Bronx club has pledged to match that amount.

Multiplying that amount by the commitment of LCIF, would see Bermuda's contribution quadrupled, he said.

And the club moved a tenth of the way towards its goal during Wednesday's luncheon when one of the members stood up to make a personal pledge of $500.

Mr. Grossman issued the challenge to Bermuda personally, said Mr. Pearson.

The Grossman family's "amazing acts of kindness" toward Bermudians have always been given open-heartedly pointed out another Hamilton Lion.

"They've never asked for anything in return from Bermuda," he said. "I'd like to think we could deliver on this 100 percent or more."

In an effort to meet the remainder of the challenge, the Hamilton Lions will be holding a Night Under the Stars at Horseshoe Beach on September 15.

The club is encouraging the public to come out for an enjoyable evening in support of a good cause.

Those interested in attending or in helping out Lions with the event or the fundraising effort are encouraged to call Lion Marc Morabito at 238-0206. Please leave a message if he is not available.