Cash raised for Guide Dogs

An event at Blair Castle has raised over £4,000 in a single day for Guide Dogs Scotland’s Perth and District Branch.

The sum of £4,360 was raised at a Scotland’s Gardens Scheme event at the castle on June 24.

Guide Dogs received a large percentage of the admission prices on the day.

The fundraising branch also raised over £250 with a puppy training demonstration, raffle and name a puppy competition.

Visitors also had a chance to enter Guide Dogs’ sensory experience unit and discover what it is like to have sight loss.

Staff now aim to raise more cash to allow them to name a guide dog puppy and pay for its initial training.

The charity’s community fundraising officer Andrea Williams said: “Guide Dogs was delighted to be chosen as Blair Castle’s charity partner for this event.

“The total raised is outstanding, and castle staff are going to fundraise to take the amount to £5,000, which will enable them to name a guide dog puppy and sponsor it through the first year of its training.

“Guide Dogs relies on donations and it’s only through the support of local public and business communities that we can continue our life-changing work.

“The money raised will help us make a real difference to people in Scotland who are living with sight loss and we would like to extend our sincere thanks to staff and visitors for their generosity.”