Over £470 raised at Guide Dogs fundraiser hosted by South Lanarkshire Council in East Kilbride
Councillor Joe Fagan arranged the Make Every Cuppa Count event on behalf of the council's Touch a Life, Make a Difference appeal.
Over £470 was raised at a Guide Dogs fundraiser hosted by South Lanarkshire Council at East Kilbride United, as the charity called for EK locals to join their pack.
Councillor Joe Fagan arranged the Make Every Cuppa Count event on behalf of the council's Touch a Life, Make a Difference appeal.
The event, supported by Guide Dogs' Hamilton Fundraising Group volunteers, consisted of a bake sale, information stands, Guess the Name of the Dog, and a raffle – and of course an opportunity to meet life-changing guide dogs.
Community fundraising manager at Guide Dogs Sandi Johnson, said: 'We'd like to thank East Kilbride United for hosting us at their venue, and donating a number of raffle prizes on the day, which helped us reach our total.
'We're grateful to be a nominated charity for the Provost Margaret Cooper's Touch a Life, Make a Difference appeal, and thank Joe for promoting the event and also arranging raffle prizes for it. A big thank you to everyone who attended the event on the day.'
Councillor Fagan added: 'The coming together of these charitable initiatives has helped us raise funds for a good cause and raise awareness about the difference a guide dog can make.
'As ever, the generosity of East Kilbride shone through and the Touch a Life, Make a Difference appeal will continue throughout the year. I want to thank everyone who gave generously and volunteered and East Kilbride United for letting us use their superb facilities.'
If you missed the event, Guide Dogs will be back in East Kilbride on Tuesday, May 20, hosting an open puppy class for locals interested in volunteering with Guide Dogs.
The event, including watching part of the class, and the opportunity for tea and to hear about the Puppy Raising role, takes place at The Dug and Bone, 55 Nasmyth Avenue, East Kilbride, from 11.30am to 1.30pm.
Booking is essential so email Erin.McArthur@guidedogs.org.uk.
Please note, pet dogs are not permitted.
Erin McArthur, Puppy Development Advisor for Guide Dogs, said: 'We're really looking forward to welcoming new volunteer puppy raisers to our guide dog family.
'This is an opportunity to find out more about what's involved with raising a guide dog puppy. Please come along and meet our fantastic local team of staff and volunteers to find out first-hand how you can change people's lives.'
Staff will be on hand to chat to locals about becoming part of the pack, as well as an opportunity to meet the pups and their volunteer puppy raisers.
*Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Western Telegraph
10 hours ago
- Western Telegraph
Saundersfoot guide dog volunteer celebrates Lifetime award
Eva Rich, from Saundersfoot, received a Lifetime of Service award in an event in Cardiff coinciding with Volunteers Week. Andrew Lennox, Guide Dogs' chief executive, announced that Ms Rich has been a guide dog owner for 63 years with seven guide dogs throughout her life. The names of each dog were read out during the ceremony. Ms Rich revealed to the audience her anticipation of being paired with guide dog number eight, following the withdrawal of Nancy, a Labrador cross retriever. Pembrokeshire's collection box coordinator, Lynn Knibbs, accompanied Mrs Rich at the event, where they were presented with a bouquet, badge, commemorative plate imprinted with a guide dog image, as well as a certificate.
South Wales Argus
12 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Abergavenny toy share "so proud" of BBC award recognition
Toy Share Abergavenny, founded by Hannah Greys, is one of the 32 finalists in the BBC Cymru Wales Make a Difference Awards 2025. The awards celebrate individuals and groups who make a significant positive impact on their communities. Ms Greys' project is up for the Green Award. Hannah Greys is a finalist for the 'Green' award with BBC Cymru 'Make a Difference' (Image: Hannah Greys) The initiative, which began as a small social media group in March 2022, provides a free toy sharing service for children aged 0-12. It aims to encourage families to buy less and normalise second hand items, thus reducing the environmental impact of toys. In just over three years, more than 22,000 toys have been offered for free through the group. This not only helps families but also prevents these toys from ending up in landfill sites. Toy Share Abergavenny is up for an award with BBC Cymru 'Make a Difference' (Image: Toy Share Abergavenny) Ms Greys said: "I'm so proud that Toy Share Abergavenny has been shortlisted for the Green Award at the BBC Cymru Make a Difference Awards 2025. "It really does mean the world to see the impact of a simple idea – a free toy-sharing group – recognised for the difference it's making to both the environment and our local community." The initiative was born out of Ms Greys' personal experiences and observations. Before launching Toy Share, her own family faced unexpected financial hardship, during which she met many other parents struggling in silence. This inspired her to create a transparent, non-judgemental, and welcoming group where families could find support. Ms Greys added: "Being green shouldn't have to be a luxury. "It's something we can all do. "Toy Share Abergavenny is warm, non-judgemental and welcoming. "It's a space where no child has to miss out. "Where giving and receiving toys for free is just part of everyday life. "Where we celebrate second-hand, instead of seeing it as second-best." Toy Share Abergavenny is one of the four finalists in the Green Award category. The BBC Cymru Wales Make a Difference Awards 2025 received over 700 nominations. The finalists were selected based on their exceptional contributions to their communities. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on September 20 in Cardiff. The judging panel includes prominent BBC presenters such as Katie Owen, Lauren Price, Gethin Jones, Owain Wyn Evans, Bronwen Lewis, Iolo Williams, Olivia Breen, and Aleighcia Scott. The other categories include Carer, Community Group, Fundraiser, Great Neighbour, Key Worker, Unsung Hero, and Volunteer. Ms Greys encourages those interested in getting involved in Toy Share Abergavenny to find them on Facebook. She said: "Together, we're proving that sharing really is a greener, kinder and fairer way to play."
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- South Wales Argus
Pontllanfraith couple win award for raising guide dog pups
Peter and Sue Simms, from Pontllanfraith, were presented with the Princess Alexandra Award for Lifetime Achievement by Guide Dogs Cymru at a ceremony in Cardiff to mark Volunteers' Week. The couple took in their first guide dog puppy 25 years ago and have continued to foster and care for puppies, many of whom have gone on to become successful guide dogs. Mr Simms said: "We got involved with Guide Dogs two years after our own dog died. "We missed having a dog but were reluctant to get another pet, so this was an opportunity to do something different." The couple are currently looking after black Labrador cross German Shepherd Jenna, who is 14 months old. She accompanied them to the awards ceremony, where they were praised for their compassion, patience and generosity in helping guide dog puppies to thrive. They were presented with their award by Guide Dogs' chief executive, Andrew Lennox, who said: "They have proved themselves to be truly remarkable, kind individuals." The couple say they have learned how smart the dogs are by the speed at which they develop.
