Guide dogs give people back their lives: Keano
“There are lots of good causes out there, but for me I would back Irish Guide Dogs every day of the week,” Keane said.
“The hardest part is trying to leave HQ [Model Farm Rd, Cork] without stealing a few puppies!”
The former hard man of Irish soccer and Irish Guide Dogs’ most famous patron is looking for volunteers all over the country to help out with the charity’s upcoming national Shades campaign, which runs from April 28 to May 2.
Volunteers will be selling Puppy Pins for €2 during street collections throughout the week, as well as at a nationwide Tesco collection day on Thursday, May 1.
“There are loads of benefits to volunteering with Irish Guide Dogs during Shades,” said Keane, who is now assistant manager of the Republic of Ireland football team.
“When I leave Guide Dogs I always feel better about myself. I’ve met lots of blind people over the years and it’s just amazing what the dogs do — what they give people. These dogs are giving people back their life.”
Louise O’Sullivan Geary, the charity’s community fundraising manager, said it cost more than €4.5m to run the organisation each year and so public support was essential.
“The lifetime cost of one working dog is €38,000m,” Ms O’Sullivan Geary said.
“Irish Guide Dogs trained the highest number of people to date in 2013 [197] and plans to increase this to 240 people in 2014.”
Ms O’Sullivan Geary said that, as a charity that is 80% funded through donations and the public, support was essential and that even volunteering for one or two hours during the week in question would make an impact.
To volunteer in your area call 1850 506300 or email Louise on louiseosg@guidedogs.ie.
Shades 2014 is encouraging the public to mind their own eyes and Wear Shades for a Day on Friday, May 2.
The sun, and UV light in particular, can be damaging to people’s vision.
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