Taking the plunge for Guide Dogs

Forty sighted and visually-impaired people leapt into the chilly waters of Bristol harbour to be rescued by a Newfoundland dog, to raise £6,000 for Guide Dogs.

The guide dog owners and supporters were taking part in an event organised by charity fundraising group Newfound Friends, at Portishead Marina.

“It was a brilliant experience,” said guide dog owner Maureen Rowley, who raised £170. “I was a little apprehensive to start with but I just relaxed and thought of Guide Dogs – and why I was raising money for the charity which has transformed my life – and enjoyed the ride!”

Non-swimmer Tony Walsh had more reason to fear the water. “Once I was in the water I felt very safe holding on to Squirrel’s harness as she swam back to the boat. She felt fast and strong and I wasn’t worried,” said guide dog owner Tony, who raised £80.

The friendly, furry, giant Newfoundland is a natural swimmer and has webbing between its paws to help it swim. In the 1930s, a Newfoundland called ‘Swansea Jack’ rescued 27 people from Swansea harbour, and it is in his honour that a guide dog puppy named Jack is being sponsored with money raised at the Bristol event.

Paul Jeffries- Temporary Assistant Publications Manager
Tel: (0118) 983 5555

The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, Hillfields, Burghfield Common, Reading, Berkshire. RG7 3YG
Website: www.guidedogs.org.uk

NEWFOUND FRIENDS WORKING FOR CHILDRENS CHARITIES

It is over 14 years since Newfound Friends was formed and at the present time it has been involved in raising over half a million pounds. for various childrens charities.

Apart from raising money for childrens charities the dogs have been involved as companion animals in various capacities at childrens hospices and hospitals throughout the UK.

We believe that the work undertaken by Newfoundlands in this field is unsurpassed by any other breed.

Our involvement with the dogs has brought us together with different families who use the hospice for respite care. There is no doubt that the care and attention the families recieve from the hospice is a major influence and benefit to all the families and children concerned.

We are always in need of new ways to raise funds for the hospice and the children that they support. If you have any ideas, thoughts or opinions that you feel may be of benefit to raise funds please let us know. Please don't hesitate to tell us wether it's a fundraising idea, new ways of fundraising through merchandise or the dogs themselves just being a general benefit to the organisation.

If you have any thoughts on subject matter for either of the above it would be useful to get some feedback to what the market is looking for.

You can email us on: info@newfoundfriends.co.uk
Telephone: 01275 849732
Fax: 01275 817887

Just to say that we don't only support the childrens hospice. This year Newfound Friends have been involved with the following organisations:

CHARITY DAY

Each year Newfound Friends has its own charity day held at the Cotswold Water Park, Gloucester. Using the lifesaving skills of the Newfoundland dogs, participants raise money by means of sponsored rescues. It is not unusual for companies to sponsor their employees, Royal Mail, Nationwide Building Society, Hewlitt Packard and Nuclear Electric are some of the companies who have kindly supported the event in this way. Also some individual participants have raised in excess of £1000 for their rescue.

The experience of being rescued by a 12 stone dog is one that lives in the memory of the rescuees for the rest of their lives. The pleasure of taking part and the knowledge of how their efforts contribute to such worthy causes certainly has a good effect on people. Natalia Budd,(pictured right with Bear ) whose 2 brothers have benefitted from stays at the Childrens Hospice,took part last year. She was matched £ for £ by an anominus benefactor for the sponsorship she raised. Natalia knows the dogs well from her visits to the Hospice and really enjoyed joining them in the water.

Charity Fundraising.

The ways Newfound Friends have raised money have taken various forms over the years beginning with charity days where people got themselves sponsored to be rescued.

We've also attracted support and encouragement from large companies who have either equalled or exceeded amounts raised by their employees. Some have been encouraged to make the Childrens Hospice their charity of the year. We have been supported in these ways by Nat West, Barclays, the Post Office, Nationwide and Hewlett Packard among others.

Each time Newfound Friends has featured on T.V. or in the national press we have received donations from individuals and institutions. Some institutions have the management of trust funds in their remit and the combination of animals and children often meets the criteria for donations from these.

We have also received grants from the Foundation of Sports and Arts, the Rotarians and even a collection from the staff of the Old Bailey.

We have, with the aid of our patrons, held a grand ball and crporate evenings on board the Matthew and the tall ship from Russia named the Nikolai, during the International Festival of the Sea.

This year we had teams in the Bristol Dragonboat race for the first time.

These are a few examples but if anyone has any ideas for new ways of fundraising, we would love to hear them.