Eye Tissue Transporters
Delivering the Gift of Sight
When donated eye tissue or recovery kits need to travel between Madison and another community, volunteer Lions help make the connection. Transporters drive one leg of a carefully coordinated relay, meeting another volunteer at a designated location so these time-sensitive materials can continue safely on their way.
These trips may happen during the day, at night, on weekends, or in difficult weather. Every completed leg represents a Lion giving time, mileage, and care to support the work of the Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin. Madison Lions Club is proud to recognize all of the volunteers whose dependable service helps make the gift of sight possible.
Top 10 Active Transporters
Ranked by the number of transport legs recorded in our history.
| Rank | Transporter | Transports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phil Ingwell | 49 |
| 2 | John Jenson | 46 |
| 3 | Tim Benishek | 45 |
| 4 | Tim Mitchell | 39 |
| 5 | Paul Fankhauser | 38 |
| 6 | Julie Baglama | 36 |
| 7 | Linda Bergren | 35 |
| 7 | Rick Daluge | 35 |
| 9 | Geoff Hudson | 33 |
| 10 | Colleen McCormick | 29 |
Transport Destinations
The totals below show how many recorded transport legs ended at each destination. Multiple trips to the same destination on the same day are counted separately.
| Destination | Transports |
|---|---|
| Johnson Creek | 456 |
| Beaver Dam | 454 |
| Westfield | 186 |
| Wisconsin Dells | 122 |
| Janesville | 105 |
| Portage | 92 |
| Davis Duehr | 13 |
| UW Hospital | 9 |
| UW Blood Bank | 5 |
| Fort Atkinson | 3 |
| VA Hospital | 3 |
| Wakefield | 2 |
| Milwaukee | 1 |
| Rockford | 1 |
| Stevens Point | 1 |
What the Destinations Mean
Eye tissue transportation often works as a relay. Some destinations are medical facilities where tissue or recovery kits are picked up or delivered. Others are communities where one volunteer meets another and transfers a carefully packaged shipment for the next leg of its journey.
- Johnson Creek
- A frequently used eastbound relay point near Interstate 94, where Madison-area volunteers can meet the next driver.
- Beaver Dam
- A major relay point northeast of Madison and, at times, a medical pickup or delivery destination.
- Westfield
- A northbound relay point along the route toward central and northern Wisconsin.
- Wisconsin Dells
- A northbound relay point along the Interstate 90/94 corridor.
- Janesville
- A southbound relay point connecting Madison with southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Some trips may also involve medical facilities in Janesville.
- Portage
- A northbound relay point near the junction of major highways leading toward central and northern Wisconsin.
- Davis Duehr
- Eye-care and surgical services in Madison; this is a medical pickup or delivery destination rather than a highway relay point.
- UW Hospital
- UW Health University Hospital in Madison, a medical pickup or delivery destination.
- UW Blood Bank
- A specific hospital department in Madison to which some medical materials have been delivered.
- Fort Atkinson
- An occasional southeast Wisconsin destination or relay point.
- VA Hospital
- The veterans hospital in Madison, where transported tissue may support patient care or medical research.
- Wakefield
- A rare long-distance destination in the historical records.
- Milwaukee
- An occasional long-distance destination connecting the Madison network with southeastern Wisconsin.
- Rockford
- An occasional destination in northern Illinois, showing that the relay network sometimes extends beyond Wisconsin.
- Stevens Point
- An occasional central Wisconsin destination or relay point.