Meet Bramble, the town’s guide puppy
Fundraising campaign success
After reaching their £5000 fundraising target, those behind Blairgowrie’s first Name A Puppy campaign have received a photo of the adorable Guide Dog puppy they’ve named Bramble.
Right now, the Labrador cross golden retriever puppy is just seven weeks old but, over the next 12 months, Lesley MacDonald from Cargill’s Bistro in the east Perthshire town – who co-ordinated the fundraising – will hear what little Bramble has been up to on her training.
The fundraisers will receive a puppy birth certificate, updates on her training and a final photo as Bramble leaves her puppy walker to go to Guide Dog training school.
And they - along with the winner of a prize draw to name the puppy - will get to meet her as well.
Lesley said: “It was surprisingly easy to raise the £5000.
“Everyone got behind it and came up with loads of imaginative ideas, including a coffee morning, a blindfold flower arranging demonstration, a chocolate tasting event, a Christmas market and artisan craft events.
“But the reality of what we’ve done only hit us when we received the photograph of Bramble.
“All puppies are cute, but ours is quite special. We can’t wait to follow her progress over the next 12 months or so.”
Deirdre McVean, chair of Guide Dogs Perth and District fundraising group, said: “I hope everyone involved, especially Lesley at Cargill’s Bistro, knows just how much they have done to bring independence to a blind or partially sighted person.
“A guide dog brings confidence, mobility and companionship. Bramble will truly change a life.”
Buoyed by their success, the team have already started raising money to name a second guide dog puppy and have so far raised more than £1000 for Guide Dogs Scotland.
The next fundraising event for the campaign is a Burns Night quiz on Thursday this week, January 26, in Cargill’s Bistro.
The session will test teams’ knowledge of Scotland as well as raise funds for the worthy cause.
The quiz gets underway at 7.30pm and is open to teams of four people, with entry £5 per person. All proceeds to Guide Dogs Scotland.
There will be a prize for each member of the winning team and a competition to win a bottle of malt whisky.
A pre-quiz set menu is available for £10 per person from 5pm to last orders at 6.30pm.
The quiz and the pre-quiz meal must be booked in advance, contact 01250 876735 or info@cargillsbistro.com