GUIDE DOGS volunteers have raised more than £5,000 to name a puppy after a much-loved Vale of Glamorgan colleague.
Linda Killick, of Boverton, spent five years as a puppy raiser for Guide Dogs Cymru before her death in 2019. She and her husband, Bob, gave a loving home to several puppies in turn, helping to prepare them for life as a guide dog.
Fellow puppy raisers across south Wales were distraught at her passing and set about raising money to name a guide dog puppy in her memory. They held a series of events to remember their friend, whom they described as having a “wicked sense of humour.” The events included a Bluebell Walk and a cake, craft and plant sale at Pentyrch Rugby Club.
The volunteers finally smashed their £5,000 target with a highly successful pre-loved clothes and gift sale in Bethel Baptist Church Hall, Llantwit Major. Peter Thomas, a puppy raiser in Barry who helped to co-ordinate the fundraising, said: “The final event surpassed our wildest expectations. Linda was very well known in Llantwit Major, and we could not have chosen a more fitting venue to complete our fundraising journey.
“The whole afternoon felt more like a celebration for everyone present, as they shared memories of Linda and how she had impacted on all the lives she touched. As a group, we have tried to maintain Linda’s sense of humour in the knowledge that she was always encouraging everyone she met to enjoy life to the full.”
Ruth Evans, community fundraising relationship manager for Guide Dogs Cymru, said: “Puppy raisers play a vital role in preparing a young dog for the working life ahead, but they are also there to support each other, and they form strong bonds. Linda was a much-loved and well-respected member of the Guide Dogs volunteer community, and this tribute will ensure that her memory lives on.”
To volunteer for Guide Dogs, or find out more about naming a guide dog puppy in memory of someone special, please visit www.guidedogs.org.uk
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