News

Branch Focus - Waterford/Clonmel

Jill McIlroy tells us about the Waterford/Clonmel Branch

In 2005 I joined Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind as a Volunteer in the Waterford area as fundraising is something I really enjoy.

Meanwhile in Clonmel, Pam Johnson was puppy raising for the charity and then took a brood bitch Nell who had 19 pups. She also had a beautiful Ambassador Dog called Sonia. The dogs attended many fundraising events.

Both Branches worked hard with great success but we decided to amalgamate to help each other.

Our team includes:

• Marian Foley who has puppy raised 8 pups which she has brought for short spells to fundraising events – the public love to see these little gems. Marian now has an Ambassador Dog called Triggs.

• Puppy Raisers Lynda and Daniel O'Shea.

• Stefanie Fleischer has been a Vvolunteer for 13 years.

• Breda White joined us over two years ago.

• Helen Casey-Young joined us last November.

• We also have two wonderful Guide Dog Owners in Betty Threadgold and Sarah McGowan.

Our Branch is more like a family - keeping in contact with each other. We all joined for the same reason – to support a wonderful charity who give independence to blind and partially sighted clients and help families whose children have autism with Assistance Dogs. We're always open to new members!

Our fundraising includes in supermarkets and church gates (in normal times!), giving talks in schools, holding quizzes and it's not unusual to hear me on local radio talking about our latest fundraising campaign. Really, where ever we can get in we'll spread the word about this amazing charity.

Thank you to everyone in our Waterford/Clonmel Branch who do so much to support us changing lives.

You can find out more about the Branch by following their Facebook page – Click here.