Canine freestyling duo and stars of Britain’s Got Talent, Kate and Gin, helped Guide Dogs launch its latest national fundraising campaign in London today.
Go Walkies logo.
Sensational dancing Border Collie, Gin, and his trainer Kate Nicholas, were special guests at this afternoon’s (Tuesday 11th May) official launch of ‘go walkies for Guide Dogs’, in Hyde Park.
‘go walkies’ is a series of events to get the nation out walking their dogs, whilst raising vital funds to help Guide Dogs. Dog-lovers around the UK are tasked with organising walks and sponsoring dogs to take part – making it the first series of national events dogs are sponsored to take part, rather than their owners.
Fiona Chaillier, go walkies for Guide Dogs manager, commented: “There are already a number of events planned across the country which dogs, and their owners can participate in.
“We’re also making it easy for everyone to get involved by helping people to organise their own events – so they can decide on the distance, location and timings. We’re hoping that over 100 events will take place across the country this year and even more in future years. We’ve teamed up with members of the Round Table who are helping to organise several events.”
Hounds of all shapes and sizes are being called on to help launch go walkies for Guide Dogs.
Guide Dogs needs as many dogs as possible to come to the official launch of the go walkies fundraising dog walks in Hyde Park on Tuesday, May 11.
If you think your dog has star potential please come along for midday – there will be a photographer capturing all the fun and possibly some television crews.
The launch will take around one hour and there may even be a surprise celebrity guest!
The more dogs we have, the more chance of capturing the attention of the media – making go walkies for Guide Dogs and your dogs all stars!
Fiona Chaillier, go walkies for Guide Dogs manager, said: “This is a great chance to help Guide Dogs promote its latest fundraising venture and possibly see your dogs’ face in the news!”
Retired guide dog Oatie (source: www.getreading.co.uk)
A guide dog from Southcote who had to retire after going blind in one eye is now lending a paw as the chosen face of a sponsored dog walk – a part of the Go Walkies events – www.gowalkies.org.uk
Loveable Oatie is fronting the go walkies campaign launched by Burghfield-based charity Guide Dogs on Thursday last week.
The eight-year-old was Tim Guttridge’s second guide dog but retired two years ago after his sight deteriorated and Mr Guttridge noticed he was being steered too far to the right.
But Oatie still lives with Tim, his wife Elaine and Mr Guttridge’s current guide dog Chloe.
His 52-year-old owner said:
“Oatie was a brilliant guide dog, he even tried to keep going when he was losing his sight.
“It was really sad when he had to retire but I am just glad he could stay with us. He is such a lovely dog, really laid back and great to have around.
“We will definitely take him to some go walkies for Guide Dogs events.”
A go walkies event is being held at Prospect Park in Tilehurst, on Saturday, May 15. Anyone with or without a dog can get involved in the events by sponsoring a dog you know or even borrowing a friend’s dog to bring along. All money raised will help Guide Dogs create more dog partnerships in the next 10 years.
A leisurely walk is something many of us take for granted. However, for a blind or partially-sighted person, it can be a huge challenge. By choosing to Go Walkies for the Guide Dogs charity, you’re helping us to reach out to those people. In fact, Guide Dogs ambition is to get the whole country to Go Walkies for Guide Dogs – with at least 3,000 charity supporters taking part across 100 events in the first year alone!
If you don’t have your own dog, why not borrow one? An elderly neighbour might be very grateful if you offer to take their dog out for the day. Or, why not call your local animal shelter? Many will have homeless dogs only too keen to join your trek!
Watch the Go Walkies video from YouTube.
Share with your friends! Spread the news!
How many times have you wondered about having a dog? How many times have you asked your parents for a dog? Too many probably. We know how you feel.
If you can’t have the real thing there are a number of things you can do.
If you cannot commit for a long time, but are happy to put time and effort, you could volunteer to be a puppy walker for Guide Dogs. You’d have the puppy, that is training to become a guide dog, teach them basic commands and routines for about a year before they go on to training in one of the Guide Dogs schools. How does that sound?
If that’s too much of a commitment – you can always go to your local animal shelter and borrow a dog. In fact you can borrow a dog and take them for a walk with us (www.gowalkies.org.uk).
Another option, if the two above are not possible is to sponsor a dog. Not just any dog – sponsor a dog that is training to become a guide dog – sponsor a guide dog puppy. (Did we mention sponsoring a puppy makes a great gift for any occasion?)
It’s a 24 months adventure and you get to see in regular Pupdates, how a puppy is growing and training to become a fully fledged guide dog and help change a blind person’s life. It takes a lot of effort, time and many people like puppy walkers and trainers to turn a cute little puppy into a guide dog. And you can help!
Guide Dogs is a working name of The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.
A company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (291646) and a charity registered in England and Wales (209617) and Scotland (SC038979).
