WELLINGTON COUNTY – The Pet Valu Walk for Dog Guides campaign raised more than $1.3 million this year, thanks to thousands of volunteers, including members of the Palmerston, Marsville and Fergus Lions Clubs.
The campaign began 39 years ago and is now a national fundraising event, officials stated.
“We’ve come leaps and bounds since then and now it’s come full circle into a walk across Canada,” Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides (LFCDG) events manager Travis Forbes told the Advertiser.
The event has become the largest fundraising event for LFCDG, raising a total of $22 million since its inception.
Last year the foundation raised over $1.2 million with the support of donors, volunteer walk organizers and participants.
The foundation’s 2023/24 fiscal year had over 200 walk locations across the country, reaching as far as British Columbia.
Each walk location is run by volunteers and predominantly led by Lions Clubs or the national sponsor: Pet Valu.
“The local community gets to cater the walk … they pick the route,” added Forbes.
“It’s about raising awareness and funds for the work we do.”
Dog guides
Agility dog – Winston enjoyed the treats and games at the June 9 Pet Valu Walk for Dog Guides in Fergus. Advertiser file photo
The money raised goes towards providing dog guides at no cost to Canadians living with disabilities, Forbes stated.
Each guide costs around $35,000, but with the help of the foundation, accepted clients get a dog free of charge from anywhere across Canada.
“We fly them in, we accommodate them for two weeks where they stay with us in Oakville … and we train them with their dogs,” Forbes told the Advertiser.
Guide dogs serve many purposes such as hearing assistance, canine vision, service, seizure response, autism assistance, diabetes alert and facility support.
They are specially trained to adapt and help in certain situations.
Lions Club
Fergus Lion Club member Ben Collings, who helped organize the Fergus walk, stated about 40 to 45 Lions Club members joined the event.
The walk raised over $11,000 this year, almost equalling its total of $12,000 in 2023.
“We’re just thrilled that many people think this cause is so worthwhile,” Collings told the Advertiser.
He acknowledged his grandmother as the reason he fundraises for the cause.
“My grandmother had cataracts back in the old days,” he said. “That’s why I’m doing it.”
Collings expressed his gratitude towards guide dogs that help visually impaired people.
Palmerston Lions Club secretary Dave Wilson spoke about the June 8 walk held by the club.
He explained the club hadn’t been involved with the foundation since the 1980’s or 90’s.
“One of our newer members wanted to resurrect it this year, so the club got behind her and it was a good start to get back,” Wilson told the Advertiser.
The club will be participating again next year and hopes to raise $10,000.
“That would be a good goal for next year,” Wilson noted.
He said he would like to express his thanks to all the sponsors, 14 walkers and of course the four dogs who joined the walk that helped them raise more than $6,500 this year.
The LFCDG 2024/25 year began on July 1 and has a goal of $1.6 million.
Visit the website to see future walk locations and learn more about dog guides. To make a donation, visit walkfordogguides.com.
