The Purina® Walk for Dog Guides is in its 30th year of supporting Canadians with physical and medical disabilities, and Esterhazy is set to host a walk to assist this mission. Local Lions club member and walk organizer Kim Kubik has seen first-hand the impact Dog Guides have.
“It makes a huge difference in someone’s life, the simple act of receiving a Dog Guide, a companion, a best friend and a partner,” said Kubik about her experience visiting the training centre in Oakville, Ont. and on why she organized the Purina® Walk for Dog Guides this year. “Once you see the independence a recipient has and the self-confidence they display, it’s a small thing I can do to help others.”
The annual walks raise funds for Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides, a national charitable organization that breeds and trains service dogs for placement with qualifying applicants across Canada. A devoted service dog gives a person back their independence, while assisting with mobility and keeping them safe. This Esterhazy walk is one of more than 200 and is organized by the Esterhazy and District Lions Club.
“Walking or donating is a small thing that anyone can do,” said Kubik who hopes the community will help support Dog Guides by participating in Esterhazy’s first annual walk. “It means Lions Foundation of Canada can carry on with its excellent programs that help a growing number of Canadians that need a service dog.”
To date, the Purina Walk for Dog Guides has raised more than $12 million in its 30 years. Thanks to the lead sponsor Nestlé Purina PetCare, 100 per cent of funds raised by the walks go directly to Dog Guide programs.
Esterhazy walk details:
• Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015
• Location: Esterhazy Historical Park Museum
• Registration starts at 10:30 p.m. and the walk starts at 11:00 a.m.
• To register or donate, visit www.purinawalkfordogguides.com
• Suitable for all ages and abilities, and you don’t need a dog to participate
