FUN RUN for Guide Dogs

Trim Athletic club organised a 3km fun run around the town centre last Friday evening. It is the latest fun run organised by the club which give runners a low key introducito to races while helping make a contribution to good charitable causes. We are extremely grateful to the runners and walkers from Trim and its surrounding area who turned out in great numbers to support the event which will benefit the Irish Guide dogs for the Blind. There were some great outfits on display as a large number of participants embraced the whole fun theme by running in disguise. Spot prizes and team prizes were awarded. 

Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind offers a comprehensive range of services which enable both blind and vision impaired persons and families of children with Autism to achieve increased independence and an improved quality of life. Since 1976 Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind has provided a guide dog programme for people who have a vision impairment or total sight loss. A guide dog is specially trained to accompany and enable a vision impaired person to move about safely, independently and with confidence. The working relationship between a guide dog and its owner is unique and it offers both social and emotional benefits.

Launched in 2005 the IGDB Assistance Dog Programme was the first of its kind in Europe. An Assistance Dog is the same breed, age and temperament as a Guide Dog and is trained especially to work with a child with autism and his or her family.  Assistance Dogs help to control and improve the behaviour of the child by promoting calmness and acting as a safety aid to the parent. Outings to public places become less stressful and families enjoy greater freedom and mobilityMore than 80% of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind income comes from fundraising and donations. They  rely on the support and generosity of people in order to deliver their services to clients free of charge. It costs €38,000 to breed, care and support a single working-dog partnership. There's currently a 1 YEAR WAITING LIST for Guide Dogs;

Trim AC thank the following for their help in staging this event. Alan Grehan @ Sally Rogers for allowing us use his bar for registrations, DJ Johhny Pluse, Richie Walsh @ Judge & Jury, David Tobin for various PA equipment in the start and finish areas. Christian Harris for security barriers, Sgt Tom Mahon, Trim Garda Siochana, Meath Civil Defence, Stephen Leonard Hardware , Focus On Trim, Bootcamp Ireland for the warm up and all the members of the club who marshalled the route, helped with registration and results.