Praise shown for Banbury fundraisers incredible efforts

The Banbury group, which has over 30 members, has raised an incredible £26,977.71 for the charity during 2019.

This could be used in a variety of ways, including to buy 28 life-changing puppies for the charity’s assistance dog service.

Banbury-based Karen Williams, is a member of the group and has an eight-year-old yellow Labrador assistance dog called Iggy.

Karen has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and Iggy helps her with everyday tasks like picking up dropped items, pressing access buttons, pushing down the footplates on her wheelchair and helping her to get dressed and undressed.

She said: “I was blessed with the arrival of Iggy nearly six years ago. My life before Iggy was unrecognisable. I stayed at home all day every day, only going out to Doctors appointments.

“Having Iggy by my side means I can go out when I want, and stay at home when I want.

Iggy has given me a purpose. I love being part of the Banbury Supporter Group and helping to raise money for Dogs for Good – it’s my way of giving back.”

The Banbury group’s efforts last year spanned a variety of fundraising activities, including their annual picnic at Saint James Lake in Brackley which is held every May, an autumn craft fair in October at the Dogs for Good Centre in Banbury and various other events throughout the year such as fetes, fairs and tin collections.

All told, this has raised enough money to:

• Purchase 28 puppies for their assistance dog scheme or

• Pay for advanced training for 20 new partnerships or

• Cover the annual insurance cost for 114 puppies or dogs in training

Dogs for Good’s chief executive, Peter Gorbing, said: “This truly is an enormous amount of money and means so much to our charity. We greatly appreciate the long hours - in all kinds of weather- positivity and dedication that went into raising a sum of this magnitude.”

In the last 20 years, Dogs for Good Supporter Groups nationwide have raised over £1.5million; helping to train more dogs that go onto help people with disabilities overcome specific challenges and enrich and improve lives and communities.

Dogs for Good receives no government funding and relies entirely on donations, fundraising and volunteers to continue its pioneering work.

To get involved call the community fundraising team on 01295 262600 (select Option #4) or visit: www.dogsforgood.org.