Dog Walk raises funds for Dog Guide program
By Joan Janzen
The Eston 95 Lions Club is hosting their fifth Dog Walk on October 14th, starting at the Legion Hall. Registration takes place at 12:30 p.m., and the walk begins promptly at 1:00 p.m. Proceeds from the walk go to the Lions Foundation of Canada (LFC) and the Dog Guide program.
Lion member Theresa Japp said they’re proud to have raised $31,866.95 for LFC and the Dog Guide program. Those funds support the raising, training and providing dogs at no cost to the recipients.
Photo: (from Dog Guide Program FB page)
“We are proud to have purchased eight dogs to date through the LFC to help give independence to vision, hearing, service, seizure, autism, diabetes and trauma support persons,” Theresa said. This means eight people in Canada have benefited from the dogs the Eston club has purchased.
The head office of the LFC is located in Oakville, Ontario. “That’s where the dogs are raised and trained, and recipients go there to get matched with the dogs and learn how to work with these canines,” she explained. It costs upwards of $35,000 to train and care for each dog in the seven categories.
Although the dogs are free for the recipients, no government funding is provided. The organization relies entirely on donations, which makes Eston’s dog walk a significant fundraising event. “It’s just been getting bigger and better every year,” Theresa said.
In the past, approximately 50 people have participated in the walk. “We promote it at the school for kindergarten to grade 9 students, but anyone is welcome, young or old, with or without a dog. We also invited local Lions clubs to participate if they’re interested,” she explained.
People are invited to bring their leashed canine and join the fundraiser; however, having a dog is not a requirement. Participants can get sponsors for the walk or make individual donations.
Walkers follow signs which will be posted throughout the town of Eston and follow the route for a leisurely 45-minute walk back to the Legion Hall. There, they will enjoy snacks, beverages and visiting.
“It’s really an important project. We believe in the dog guides immensely; that’s why we put a lot of money and effort into it,” Theresa explained. “People have been so supportive because they see the work that we do.”
There are two Lions clubs in Eston: the Eston Lions (men) and Eston 95 Lions (ladies); the latter has 45 members. “We figured out that one out of ten people in Eston are Lions members,” Theresa said. “We are the largest service club in the surrounding community. There’s not much we can’t tackle because we work together.”
The club is also hosting a fall market and bake sale beginning at 11:00 a.m. at the Legion Hall on the same day as the dog walk, where baking and preserves will be available. Lion member Doreen Hewiston has generously donated a handmade dog-themed quilt, which will be raffled off that afternoon.
The Eston 95 Lions Club encourages anyone who wants to help the club make a difference to consider donating and joining in the dog walk.