The Lions, Lioness, and Leo Clubs of Bermuda have come together to raise money for the new endoscopic suite, which will be housed in the new wing of the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

The clubs have come up with various events to raise part of the $110,000 needed for the suite, which will then be matched by the Lions Club International Foundation.

Thus far they have raised $37,000.

As part of the 50th anniversary of Lionism in Bermuda, the clubs approached the hospital to determine a need that could be filled. Executive director of the hospital Sheila Manderson stated that the greatest need would be for a new endoscopic suite.

Paget Lions President John D'Alessio said: "The Bermuda zone is committed to raising $55,000 of which to date we have $39,000 and the Paget Lions Club Charity Golf Classic -- to be held on Saturday, May 24 -- will raise some more.'' He added: "The other $55,000 will be raised by applying to the Lions Club International Foundation. We have applied to them for the matching $55,000 grant and zone chairman Joe Smith was recently informed that the application has been excepted and is moving forward.

"We anticipate matching funds being received later this year with the opening of the hospital's new wing on January 1998.'' Mr. D'Alessio also said the Hamilton Lions have raised funds by holding a dance in the fall which was an independent Paget club project. "At the golf tournament we are hoping to raise $30,000, some of which will go towards the endoscopic suite.'' He added: "In 1994, we secured matching funds from the Lions Club International Foundation to install an improved water purification system for the hospital's Dialysis unit. The total investment was $33,000.

"We were able to secure the unit duty free because it was being fully financed by us as a registered charity. Our mission is to do the same with the endoscopic suite.'' Consultant in internal medicine Dr. Wilbert Warner is one of the five doctors that uses the endoscopic equipment to examine the lining of the stomach and colon.

"It is really going to be very exciting. We will be upgrading the equipment we presently have from fibre optic endoscopes, that we have had for some 12 to 15 years, to a video endoscopic system,'' Dr. Warner said.

He added: "The previous equipment was used for the same purposes, to diagnosis disorders and conditions in the gastro intestinal track such as gastric and duodenal ulcers and bleeding, esophagal and gastric tumours.

"It was used to give a diagnosis of a variety of other conditions such as nausea and vomiting, weight loss, as well as the diagnosis of colonic disorders like colon cancer and Crohns disease, which is a common inflammatory bowel disease.'' Dr. Warner also said the new equipment is a "step up -- it is where medical technology has gone. What we have been using was standard 10 or 15 years ago, but the video equipment is now standard and has been for the last five to seven years, so we are really trying to upgrade and catch up.'' He added: "The new equipment also has the advantage of pro-video documentation, and the images can be larger because we will be using a camera to amplify.'' Asked how he felt about the Lions making it all possible, Dr. Warner said: "I am extremely appreciative. I had offered a proposal to the hospital for upgrading equipment but at the time there were no funds available. The Lions approached the hospital with a project in mind and the hospital agreed that this would be a worthwhile undertaking. The hospital spoke with me about the idea and I thought this would be very appropriate. I am greatly appreciative to the Lions.'' TOP PRIORITY -- The Lion, Lioness and Leo Clubs of Bermuda have committed themselves to raising part of the money for the new and improved endoscopic suite that will be housed in the new wing of the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. Pictured are vice chairperson of the Bermuda Lions, Lioness, and Leo Club zone Albert Thompson (left) and consultant in internal medicine Dr.

Wilbert Warner.