Limerick volunteers in with a chance to win a celebrity dinner

THE Limerick volunteer fundraising Branch of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind is appealing for support for Guide Dog Day, sponsored by Park2Travel.

Collections will take place on Saturday, May 24 in Ryan's Centra, Raheen, and at the Crescent Shopping Centre.

Then, on Sunday May 25, the Take the Lead Walk in the University of Limerick kicks off at 11am. 

Launched by the charity’s ambassador Roy Keane, Guide Dog Day will see communities nationwide come together through fundraising collections (May 23-24), Take the Lead Walks, and a special competition to win dinner with the football legend. 

All funds raised will go directly towards transforming lives by providing highly trained service dogs, giving people with visual impairments, children with autism, and students greater independence and mobility.

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Tickets are available only at GuideDogs.ie for  €10 each or 6 for €50. 

Costing over €5 million a year to run the organisation and with only 15% of funding coming from the government, the charity relies heavily on the generosity and support of the general public, corporates and gifts in wills. All services provided are free of charge and the breeding, training and care of one dog costs €53,000. This year the charity is aiming to change the lives of 70 families.

Tim O'Mahony, CEO of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, underscored the growing urgency for support: "Last year, thanks to the incredible generosity shown on Guide Dog Day, we successfully created many life-changing partnerships — matching 48 Guide Dogs and Assistance Dogs and placing 5 Community Dogs in schools and facilities nationwide. But the need is growing fast. It costs approximately €53,000 to breed, train, and care for just one service dog. 

“This year, we’re calling on the public to help us reach our goal of transforming the lives of 70 more families across Ireland. Over the next decade, the number of school-aged children with autism is expected to rise by over 30%. That means the demand for our service dogs will far surpass our current capacity. Without increased support, we won’t be able to keep up. Together, we can ensure that no family is left waiting for the life-changing impact of a service dog."

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Irish Guide dogs currently have 3 litters born so far this year, 105 puppies currently being puppy raised by dog lovers in homes across Ireland, 38 pups undergoing formal training who will hopefully be successfully matched in the coming months, with 50 families on the waiting list for an Assistance Dog.

As part of its sponsorship, Park2Travel is donating €1 from every parking booking made in May at the newly opened 6000+ space car park, located close to Dublin airport. 

In addition, Park2Travel is investing in accessibility training for all its Dublin-based staff, while shuttle bus drivers will undertake specialist training to ensure they can provide the best possible assistance to Guide Dog and Assistance Dog owners when they’re travelling to and from the terminals.

Neil Cunningham, Managing Director at Park2Travel, commented, “We are delighted to support Guide Dog Day and help raise vital funds to support their fantastic work. Our team will be supporting collections and walks across the country. By investing in accessibility, we hope to ensure that all users, Guide Dog and Assistance Dog owners, can travel with confidence and ease when using our facility.“