A long walk for the guidedogs
To raise funds for guide dogs and build awareness for all service dogs, Suzanne Baker, a trained social worker from Boksburg, will be walking 300km on the Camino trail in Spain, from October 1 to 18.
“I have always been interested in the role of animals and dogs in therapy and assisting people,” she says.
Suzanne and her family are puppy raisers for SA Guidedogs, and eight-month-old Joss is their first guide dog puppy.
Suzanne is dedicating her walk to Joss, who due to possible health issues, was recently withdrawn from the formal harness training programme which he was to complete before being matched with a blind person.
Joss will now be an ordinary pet, and will still be used for marketing of SAGA on the East Rand.
Suzanne says she decided to raise funds for SAGA and at the same time help with awareness of SAGA as an organisation, and educate on the role guidedogs play in the lives of people living with challenges.
“I walked on the Camino in Spain last year for personal reasons; I walked the last 250km from Ponferrada to Santiago, this year I am walking the first 300km from France, over the Pyrenees on the first day up to Burgos in Spain,” she says.
The project has been approved by SA Guidedog Association for the Blind.
Presently there are about 350 dogs in SA working as guidedogs, improving the quality of life of people living with disabilities. SAGA trains approximately 80 dogs a year.
R500 sponsors a harness for a guidedog and R5 000 sponsors a puppy.
“Sponsors will get a framed photo of the guidedog, and will be invited to his graduation when he goes to his allocated blind person,” she says.
Interested people can follow the project on https://www.facebook.com/#!/LifeWithJoss by “liking” the page.
All funds raised go directly to the Guidedogs account, and no money will be used for administration purposes.
SAGA will get every cent.
SA Guidedogs’ Bank details are: Nedbank (Nicolway), account number 1522034498, branch code 198765,
Reference JossCamino and your own name. Swiftcode for international transfers is NEDSZAJJ.
People making contributions can send an e-mail to fundraising@guidedog.org.za, informing Jayne Nicolle of the bank transfer to thank you.
Tax certificates can also be requested from SAGA.
Suzanne and her family are already on the waiting list again to raise another guidedog puppy when there is one available again, because SAGA has a specific breeding programme they adhere to.
