Brian backs guide dogs campaign

FOR Brian O’Driscoll, holding onto a six-month-old guide dog makes a change from holding onto an English front row forward.

The 23-year-old Irish captain yesterday became the latest sporting celebrity to back the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind's summer fundraising dinner. Next month, Roy Keane will front the Shades for a Day campaign to raise the money needed for training, equipping and feeding guide dogs.

"The sports people have been very generous with their time. It makes an awful difference to have world-famous celebrities let people know that their is a guide dog service free of charge for people who need it," said the association's regional development manager Breda Clancy.

Although the association's summer gala banquet in the Burlington Hotel will feature the voice of the GAA, Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh and crooner Paddy Cole, the main attraction will be one man and his guide dog.

American Michael Hingson is arriving to speak about his amazing escape from the 78th floor of the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11 2001. The 51-year-old had been blind since birth and had worked in the WTC for years as a sales manager with a company specialising in disaster recovery.

The shattering vibration at 8.45am that day and the stench of jet fuel told him it was time to get out. He grabbed the phone in his office, told his wife he'd be home as soon as he could and picked up the harness for Roselle, his golden Labrador receiver. The dog led him down stairwells, with the temperature climbing above 32 degrees. Mr Hingson bumped into men who were passing in the opposite direction.

"I heard applause and was told they were firefighters," he said. He kept directing Roselle with simple commands left, right and reached the ground floor after 50 minutes. Mr Hington is now the national representative of Guide Dogs for the Blind in the US and will be staying for a week in Ireland.

Tickets are still available for the summer banquet on July 4 at €2,000. Phone [phone].