Football legend Roy Keane has helped to launch Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind’s national fundraising campaign Guide Dog Day which takes place on Friday 7 May.
This year the charity is asking everyone to get active by walking, running or swimming at 100km in May for Guide Dog Day (#100k4GDD) or to donate at www.guidedogs.ie.
Despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the charity successfully matched 60 Guide Dog and Assistance Dog partnerships in 2020.
This year the charity’s resilient community of Clients, Volunteers and Supporters are determined to change the lives of 80 people and are calling on the public to help.
Current status:
- Breeding Programme continues to grow with 3 litters successfully born so far this year
- 105 puppies currently being puppy raised. These pups will be the dogs who start formal training later in 2021 and during 2022.
- 39 pups currently undergoing formal training who will hopefully be successfully matched in the coming months.
- Assistance Dog Programme waiting list due to open later this year or early 2022. (Subject to Covid)
Charity Ambassador Roy Keane said, “Having spoken to so many Guide and Assistance Dogs Owners over the years it is amazing to see what the dogs do – the impact they have on individuals and their families.
“These dogs are giving people back their lives. I’m would encourage everyone to do the #100K4GDD Challenge – I’ll be doing it here in Manchester!”.
Life-changing stories
Gillian O’Connor Lynch and her son Conor pictured with Toby
Assistance Dog Owner, Gillian O’Connor Lynch talks about the impact Assistance Dog Toby had on her son’s Conor:
“Before we got Toby, Conor was a flight risk. He had no safety awareness at all so we originally applied for an Assistance Dog from a safety point of view. What we got was so much more.
“Toby is Conor’s best friend. He keeps him safe and has such a calming influence over him.
“I often find them both lying on the floor together and Conor rubs Toby’s fur with his feet.
“We can visit supermarkets and restaurants a lot more freely now because he makes Conor feel safe, grounds him and gives him a sense of purpose in strange and new environments.
“Toby has had such a positive impact on the whole family. He is the best thing that has ever happened to us!”
Guide Dog Owner, Christina Kelly (pictured above) explains how she put her trust in Guide Dog Effie:
“In the year or so since I’ve gotten Effie, a lot has changed; Effie and I have both adjusted to working from home.
“Effie has grown in confidence, and I have found my feet with a new way of getting around – I really never thought I’d say this, but I can’t imagine life without my cheeky, clever and funny little lady by my side.
“The word ‘life-changing’ means different things to us all – but my life has definitely changed for the better since I got this cheeky pup.”
Both Gillian and Christina will be doing the Challenge.
Tim O’Mahony, General Manager of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind said, “Our Guide and Assistance Dogs enable people to lead independent lives and to actively participate in their communities; Guide Dog Day is a celebration of that. The funds raised in May will mean 80 people’s lives will be changed before the end of the year”.
The #100k4GDD Challenge
- Walk, run or swim 100km during the month of May
- Sign up at guidedogs.ie
- Fundraising packs for the first 3,000 entries
- Anyone raising over €50 through the Raisely fundraising platform will be entered into a prize draw for a number of PAWsome prizes including hotel breaks.