Guide dog walk smashes record

TRAINING COSTS ABOUT $25,000 PER SERVICE DOG

An annual fundraiser that raises money for the training of service dogs in southern Alberta raised more money this year than any previous year.

The 17th annual Walk for Guide Dogs — Lethbridge raised $158,293, marking the first time it had raised more than $100,000 and smashing the old high water mark by close to $80,000.

“It went unbelievably awesome,” said Bill Brown, chairman for the Southern Alberta Lions Walk for Guide Dogs Committee.

The walk took place at Henderson Lake Park on May 27. More than 100 walkers showed up to take place in the walk, with another 100 or so people who came out in support of the walk.

This year’s total also includes funds raised from the Taber annual walk for guide dogs as well.

“They are really part of our walk,” said Brown. “We just do it there rather than have them come in the Lethbridge. They raised $12,000 out in Taber.”

Brown said major factors in the this year’s fundraising included donations from a charitable golf tournament which netted the group $25,000. Additionally, a 4H calf auction in Picture Butte raised $37,000.

The annual walk raises money to fund the training of service dogs from six different programs. Currently, there are 15 service dogs in southern alberta, including five guide dogs, four special skills dogs, three autism dogs, and three seizure response dogs.

Brown said the dogs help people with a number of issues.

It costs around $25,000 to train a service dog, including salaries for the trainers, housing at the facility, and other costs. Additionally, the recipient of a service dog incurs no cost when they are flown out to the training facility to meet their new friend.

“All the money we raise for these walks goes directly to training the dogs,”

The committee was organized in 2001 in order to raise money for the Lions Foundation of Canada and their program supplying service dogs to those who need them.

Brown said that first year, the committee raised about $8,500 through their walk.

Since that first walk, southern Alberta has come together to raise about $808,000 for the training of service dogs.

LFC was established in 1983 by Lions Clubs of Canada in order to create a training school for service dogs.

Brown said these days, people generally do not wait more than a year for the service dogs they require. Brown himself is on his third service dog, which helps him navigate the world with vision impairments.

Anyone interested in learning more about the walk or getting involved is invited to contact Bill Brown directly at 403-9421677 or by email at brownwj@shaw.ca. They can also visit walkforservicedogslethbridge.c om.

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