The Tenby and Pembrokeshire Fundraising Branch of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association have had a busy season of fundraising, which culminated in a sponsored walk on Sunday, September 14, and the raffle draw on Wednesday, September 17.
Throughout the summer there have been various collections and stalls on Saundersfoot Harbour when the weather permitted. Fortunately, on the whole it was dry for most of the collections, except for Pembroke and Pembroke Dock, when it poured with rain all day.
The branch chairperson and members extend a huge thank you to everyone who supported the collections throughout the county and the Saundersfoot harbour stalls, with special thanks to the friends and helpers which included guide dog owners, John Lloyd with Wilma, Eifion Sanders with Bart, Veronica Prescott Owen and Claire and Jackie Reynolds with Jacob, visually impaired friends Christine Williams, Angela Brown, Kaye Taylor, Robbie Jamison and Martin Goodall, together with Jenny Lewis, Betty Humphreys, Martin and Maureen Burgess, Marianne Pettit, Margaret Brown, Betty Parsons, Anne Einon, Dianna Philips, Joan Parry and Madelene Brace.
A sponsored walk held on September 14 along the cycle track from Neyland to Johnston and back, was enjoyed by some 40 adults and children, together with 12 dogs. It is uncertain who was the oldest walker, but the youngest was definitely Mason, who did it the easy way in his pushchair. Two young ladies, seven-year-old Sarah Lawrence and six-year-old Holly Mayhew, worked hard getting sponsorship and did the walk.
Three guide dogs also enjoyed a free run and interesting sniffs; they were Ida with her owner John Dabbs, Jacob with Jackie Reynolds and her family, and branch secretary Eva Rich's guide dog Angie.
The branch will not know the total raised for some weeks, so watch this space, but a big thank you to all who took part and the kind folk who sponsored the walkers making it a successful event - and just for once the rain kept off.
On Wednesday, September 17, the summer raffle draw took place at the Mulberry Restaurant, Saundersfoot, the winning tickets being drawn by County Clr. and chairman of Saundersfoot Community Council, Phil Baker. First prize was a self-catering holiday for four, kindly donated by Powells Holidays, with the second and third prizes being two-night breaks at the Clarence Hotel, Tenby, and Rebleen Guesthouse, Tenby, to whom sincere thanks are extended for their support.
These three main prizes were won by Mr. B. Keegan, of Neyland, Mrs. S. Griffin, of Saundersfoot, and Miss A. Jones, of Ystrad Gynlais, and there were several other lucky winners of various prizes.
The raffle has raised £698, so sincere thanks to Powells Holidays and everyone else who kindly donated prizes and helped sell raffle tickets.
The branch is having a few weeks break, before ending the year with more collections in the north of the county, and the annual Christmas coffee morning on Thursday, November 6, at Saundersfoot Sports and Social Club, when it is hoped the event will be supported by friends old and new.
If anyone has some free time and would like to help a worthwhile charity, providing visually impaired people with mobility and independence in safety, please contact the secretary, Eva Rich, on 01834 812868.