(Updated 6/5/01)

Barbecue bonanza for Guide Dogs


A young recruit to the Guide Dogs organisation out on an early training exercise

“THE GREAT British outdoors is open for business.” That is the message from The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association which hopes to raise £75,000 through its local barbecues around the country, between June 23rd and 30th.

Organisers of the first 1,000 registered Barbecue Bonanzas will receive a free Barbecue Kit to help get events underway. This will include posters to publicise the BBQ, invitation pads, celebrity chef BBQ recipe from Ainsley Harriot, a voucher to purchase burgers and vegetarian grills, disposable BBQ or charcoal, and fundraising and safety tips.
Anyone wanting to organise an event should contact The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association’s BBQA ‘Hotline’ 0118-983-8207, or register on-line at www.bbq bonanza.org.uk.

Geraldine Peacock, Chief Executive of Guide Dogs said: “Fundraising has never been so tasty. And with the Barbecue Bonanza showing that the British outdoors is open for business, we hope that Guide Dogs can play its part in making this a great summer”.

Barbecue Bonanza is organised by Guide Dogs’ supporters. It costs £10 a day to train and support each guide dog and there are nearly 5,000 guide dog partnerships in the UK. The charity is expanding its services to provide free long care and low vision training to visually impaired people