Third year students of Mitchelstown CBS recently visited the state-of-the-art headquarters of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind in Model Farm Road, Cork to deliver a €1,500 cheque.
For over 40 years Irish Guide Dogs have provided life-changing services and support to people across Ireland with sight loss.
In 2005, they were the first organisation in Europe to provide Assistance Dogs for families of children with autism.
Throughout that time they have consistently focused on innovation, to ensure that they maximise the number of people who can benefit from their services.
All their programmes are offered free of charge, with intensive support and aftercare available to all their clients.
As part of Mitchelstown CBS Education for Living programme, students are encouraged to become involved in fundraising to help deserving groups or causes.
These include annual fundraiser events (previously done for Share-a-Dream and Crumlin Hospital), bag packs (done previously for Aware), and carol singing (for the local St Vincent de Paul).
This year the students raised funds for Irish Guide Dogs. They did this by fundraising during the schools Active Week.
The students with the help of teachers organised a number of activities which included, lunchtime poc fada, tug-of-war, a Teacher v Student volleyball game and a Fifth Year v Sixth Year soccer match.
The students also collected money in Mitchelstown on Friday, May 10 for the national Guide Dog Day. Thanks to all who supported generously on the day.
Delivered
The impressive sum of €1,500 was raised by the students and they travelled down as a group to deliver it to the centre.
During their visit the students were welcomed and given a very informative introduction to the centre by volunteer Joe McInernie.
They then watched two videos showing the history of Irish Guide Dogs and the amazing work they do.
The videos also gave the insight into the day to day running of the centre. The students were then given a tour of the centre where they got to meet some newly arrived puppies.
They also got a tour of the remarkable kennels where they were met by trainers Nadine and Ciara and also guide dogs in training Zodiac and Captain.
It was a fantastic experience for the students and they all were impressed with the amazing work done by Irish Guide Dogs.
