Guiding Stars Festive celebration from Guide Dogs in Scotland

Guiding Stars Festive celebration from Guide Dogs in Scotland

Nicola Stewart, Guide Dogs’ legacy marketing officer explains:  “For anyone who has lost a relative or friend, Christmas can be a difficult time of year.  So, we hope our Guiding Stars will allow people to celebrate a loved one’s life, whilst helping Guide Dogs to provide independence to blind and partially sighted people.”

The charity is distributing Guiding Stars to existing supporters who may be interested in the festive appeal.  Other people interested in supporting the charity for the first time are also invited to get involved and sign a Guiding Star.

Participants simply write their loved one’s name on the back of the star, decorate it if they want to add a further personal touch, and return it to Guide Dogs.  Their star will be hung on a special Christmas tree at the Scottish guide dog training school in Forfar.

Explains Nicola:  “Guide dogs are guiding stars, transforming the freedom, mobility and independence of blind and partially sighted people throughout Scotland.

“But, we couldn’t transform lives without generous donations from the public, which is why in this season of giving, we wanted to give our supporters an opportunity to celebrate a loved one, with a star on Guide Dogs’ Scottish Christmas tree; and a small donation to make the dreams of people with sight loss come true in 2009.”

Scottish guide dog owner Shona Black sums up the life changing role of her guide dog:  “Murray, my little star is a black Labrador, curly coat retriever cross. We are a team and without him I wouldn’t have the confidence to be as independent and active as I am.” 

Anyone interested in supporting Guide Dogs and writing a tribute on their personal Guiding Star should email Lisa.Fairweather@guidedogs.org.uk
or phone 01307 474 235.     

Every donation will help fund Guide Dogs’ work:

£10 could feed a guide dog for over two weeks
£15 could buy food bowls for a litter of ten puppies
£25 could pay for a puppy collar, lead, bed and grooming kit for a guide dog puppy
£35 could buy two dog beds
£50 could buy a training harness and interactive toys for a guide dog in advanced training
£75 could buy a special harness, collar, lead, sleeve and bell for a guide dog
£100 could pay for a portable indoor kennel and dog bed
£250 could feed a guide dog for about a year

End