NAC bid Farewell to "Frasier"

National Airways Corporation (NAC) support SA Guide Dogs through various platforms.  

NAC recently transported another guide dog to Cape Town for SAGA,which is gratefully appreciated as the costs of flyfing our guide dogs to the Cape is expensive.

Photographed here is "Frasier" prior to his departure with supportive NAC staff saying goodbye to him. The NAC staff raised funds to contribute towards

his training and were very proud to see their 'Boy" had made the grade and was on his way to the Cape to change a blind persons lie for ever!

 

   Johannesburg / Inland Region:

   26th to 30th May - Outdoor Expo (Kyalami)

   10th to 12th June - The Windpompfees (Naboomspruit)

   29th June - The Brightly Coloured Sight Art Expo (Potchefstroom Lions)

   11th Sept - The Colour Burst Spring Ball (Montecasino Ballroom)

   10th to 12th Sept - DSTV Getaway Show (Coca Cola Dome)

   28th August - The 2010 Guide Dogs Charity Fly Fishing Event (Dullstroom)

   10th October - The SA Guide Dogs Family Open Day (The JHB Training Center)

   21st October - The SA Guide Dogs Annual Golf Day (Dainfern Country Club)

   1st December - The SA Guide Dogs Carols by Candlelight (The JHB Training Center)

   KZN Region:

   16th May - Cars in the Park (Car Raffle Ticket Sales)

   28th May to 6th June - Royal Show

   11th July - Baynesfield Open Day

   24th July - Durban Street Collection (Volunteers needed)

   3rd Sept - SAGA Annual Golf Day (Umdoni Country Club)

   18th to 19th Sept - Hilton Arts Festival

 

 

   Cape Region:

   19th September - Karoo to Coast Cycle Race ( Uniondale to Knysna)

 

   24th to 26th September - Garden Show in Pietermaritzburg

SA Guide Dogs recently attended the SA Celebrity Survivor Finale and congratulates Giggi on her winning the challenge! Our celebrity was Garth Collins who sadly had to leave the island due to an injury but determined to raise much needed funds for Guide Dogs decided to hold an awareness day at the Irene Village Mall on the 17th April. After much planning the day went off very well with the public able to enter teams of two into our blind mans bluff challenge. Garth also educated the public on many aspects of blindness and hosted the celebrity challenges during the day. Much fun was had by all and for that we thank Garth and Jackie as well as the management team of Irene Village Mall and we hope to make this an annual event going forward. R34500 was raised on the day and a huge thank you to all the sponsors, shops and members of the public who came out to support this fundraiser!

 

 

Garth also secured R15000 from the Survivor Series for SAGA an during the finale Pick n Pay contributed a further R10000 to each charity as Liquifruit stepped in with R20000 per charity! For this we thank all of the above and these funds will ensure more guide dogs are trained to provide blind people with independence, mobility and companionship in South Africa.

   

SA Guide Dogs were allocated a Cinema at the Northgate Shopping Centre, thanks to Ster Kinekor on April 15 to raise funds by hosting a movie launch.

The movie Hachiko is based on a true story and stars Richard Gere and highlights the incredible bond that exists between humans and dogs.
There was a full house with all the tickets sold out.

Hampers were donated and were auctioned at the event; prizes were a hamper of goodies for dogs and beer for a year, which were won by two lucky SAGA supporters.

HACHIKO – A Dogs Story
Starring Richard Gere in the lead role and standing as a testament to the loyalty of man's best friend this heart-warming film by Lasse Hallstrom (whose other recent film Dear John is taking the world by storm) is based on a 1987 Japanese film which, in turn, was based on a true story.

Richard Gere plays Parker Wilson, a college professor who spots an abandoned puppy on a train platform and realizing he has no owner, takes him home to his wife Cate and daughter Andy (Joan Allen & Sarah Roemer).

This is the beginning of a wonderful relationship as Parker and the dog, who he names Hachiko, become inseparable forming a strong and unexplainable bond. Each morning Hachiko accompanies Parker to the station and then he goes home before returning in the evening to meet his master when he gets off the train.

However, when events unfold that lead to their separation Hachiko faithfully returns to the same spot at the station every day and begins touching the lives of everyone who work near and commute through it as he teaches the local people about love, compassion and above all unyielding loyalty.

The Labrador Retriever Kennel Club recently raised funds to buy a wonderful lightweight wheelchair for our Service Dog training department. This wheelchair will be well used in the training of more service and social dogs and the donation is greatly appreciated by SA Guide Dogs!

Pictured below are: (left to right) Ruth Bots Vice Chairman of LRKC with lab Maggie, Di Holman Hon Secretary with labs Pete and Mae,Sandra Farrel Hon Treasurer LRKC with lab Bonnie,Audrey Bryant,LRKC Comittee member with labs Ellie and Mishka.

Left to right row standing: Mike Holman, Chairman of the LRKC, Mandla Mxumalo, SAGA Service Dog Trainer, Noel Midlane SAGA Corporate Fund Development.

SA Guide Dogs attended the recent GARDEN EX show at the dome. We are happy to report that an amount of R15280 was raised through the sale of car raffle tickets and toy guide dog puppy sales. A big thank you to our puppy walkers who once agin helped us man the stand and to all the members of the public who supported us and bought tickets! Without your support we would not be able to train more guide dogs for the blind and visually impaired! Guide Dogs would like to thank Derrek from Kwik Kerb Highveld who kindly sponsored our K9 dog garden. Derrek can be contacted on 0834125861 for excellent service and quotes on Kirbing for your garden

  

SA Guide Dogs will also be hosting a fun filled day aptly named the "The udder side of sight!" at the Irene Village Mall on the 17th April. Garth Collins from Celebrity Survivor SA also known as "Granite"will be under blindfold for the day to raise awareness around blindness. A treasure hunt with one team member underblindfold will take place in the mall and teams of two can be entered on the day for only R50 per team. Your R50 will also buy you a ticket to win a Nissan Livina 1.6! A celebrity challenge is also planned for the day.Diarise this date and come join us and the guide dogs at Irene Village Mall from 9h00 until 15h00.