Guide Dogs is 80 this year and we are inviting individuals, schools, businesses and community groups to help us celebrate by getting involved in some fantastic fundraising.

Lisa Knight, Guide Dogs Fundraising Manager, explains:  “Thousands of blind and partially sighted people never leave home alone and Guide Dogs will not rest until they have the same freedom as everyone else.  Help us to give blind and partially sighted people the next best thing to vision – a guide dog.  And if that’s not what is best for them, we will find others way of helping them achieve mobility and independence.  We rely almost entirely on voluntary contributions to fund services, so every penny makes a life-changing difference.”

Did you know?

It now costs almost £50,000 to support a guide dog from birth to retirement and we now have over 4,600 guide dog owners in the UK.  Guide Dogs promises to supply every guide dog owner with a dog for as long as they need one.  Some people may need 6 or 7 dogs in their lifetime!

As part of the 80^th Birthday celebrations here in Chesterfield:

“Go Walkies”

There will be a sponsored dog walk at Rother Valley Country Park on the 25^th September.  This will be a fun day out for all, everyone is welcome, including dogs too!  For more information please see here. 

“Autumn Craft Fayre”

On Saturday 1^st October the Autumn Craft Fayre will officially be opened by The Mayor and Mayoress of Chesterfield Councillor Peter and Jean Barr, at 2pm at the Rose Hill United Reformed Church Hall.

There will be lots of stalls providing local hand-made crafts including jewellery, cards, clothes, toys, altered arts, candles, soaps and xmas decorations.  Special Guide Dog Stalls complete with a tombola, raffle, cakes, refreshments and merchandise will also be available. 

Guide Dogs Chesterfield are a relatively small group with less than 20 members.  Meetings are held each 3^rd Monday in the month, at the Rose & Crown, Old Road, Brampton at 7.30pm.  These monthly meetings are used to discuss Find Raising Events, Collections, Auctions, Quiz and Music Nights and the Craft Fayre.  Anyone is welcome to attend, in order to find out more information or find out different ways in which they can help or volunteer.

Should you wish to book a stall or find out more information about Guide Dogs Chesterfield, please email;

guidedogschesterfield@hotmail.co.uk

or call Gabbie on 07525 248740

or find them on Facebook here.