A GUIDE dog owner from Saundersfoot has been nominated for the lifetime achievement award in this year's Specsavers Guide Dog of the Year Awards. Eva Rich will find out if she has won at an awards ceremony on July 19 in London.

The annual awards, which are organised by Guide Dogs (http://www.guidedogs.org.uk">www.guidedogs.org.uk) and sponsored by family-run opticians Specsavers, celebrate the success of guide dogs and their owners, and the people who make these amazing partnerships possible.

Eva has worked passionately for many years to promote Guide Dogs, raise vital funds and support visually impaired people in her community. As a guide dog owner of 50 years, and Tenby and Pembrokeshire fundraising group secretary for 35 years, Eva is a wonderful ambassador. Described as the branch 'lynchpin', Eva is known for the personal support she gives other local volunteers and guide dog owners.

Commenting on her experiences, Eva said: "I'm delighted and honoured to be shortlisted for the Lifetime Achievement Award. Being a volunteer for Guide Dogs is great - you meet so many interesting people and make good friends. The guide dogs I have been partnered with have changed my life, so I think it's important to give something back to Guide Dogs."

Congratulating Eva, Richard Leaman, Guide Dogs' chief executive, said: "All our volunteers do exceptional work, but this award celebrates longstanding dedication to Guide Dogs.

"Eva knows the difference a guide dog can make to a blind or partially-sighted person's life, so it's wonderful that she has chosen to help others to enjoy the same freedom of movement as everyone else."

Dame Mary Perkins, founder of Specsavers, added: "Specsavers is proud to sponsor the Guide Dog of the Year Awards, as part of our ongoing commitment to the charity.

"Our stores have pledged £250,000 to fund 25 guide dog puppies. We also hope to highlight the challenges facing many people with sight loss and raise awareness of the vital importance of regular eye examinations.

"I'm pleased to say that with the charity's support our stores have already raised more than £150,000 and we hope to reach our target by the end of the year."

Eva has been nominated for the lifetime achievement award alongside two others, a volunteer puppy walker and a fundraising branch chairman.

Eva and her guide dog, Oyster, will discover who the winner is at the Specsavers Guide Dog of the Year Awards on July 19.