Fundraisers make the pawfect farewell with a tea party

Aylsham couple Annette and Dave Smart, plus Annette’s guide dog Maci, have signed off from years of fundraising for guide dogs with a farewell tea party.

THANK YOU: Annette and Dave Smart, and guide dog Maci, have spent many years raising money for charity.

Norwich Guide Dog Fundraising Group, where Annette has been volunteer coordinator, celebrated National Tea Party Day with a Cream Tea and Quiz at Maingay House, Aylsham. Local Ambassador Guide Dog Maci had a lovely time with all the attention, while volunteer puppy raisers shared their first volunteering experience with guide dog puppy Gwen, who was about to leave them to train at Lemington Spa.

Every April, Guide Dogs supporters pop the kettle on and enjoy a cuppa with friends, neighbours and colleagues to raise funds to support people living with sight loss across the UK. A tea party event was also held at Norwich’s Castle Quarter.

Annette said: “As a guide dog owner myself, I know just what an amazing difference a guide dog can make to someone with sight loss.

“We started fundraising with tea parties in Hellesdon when matched with my second Guide Dog Maci. “This April we raised nearly £200 at Castle Quarter and £241.15 was raised at Maingay House too. Last year, we raised nearly £18,000. However, this was our ‘Farewell Tea Party’ as we step back from fundraising. “Thank you to all our group volunteers and the public that have supported my husband Dave and I and guide dog Maci of course. It is lovely to see the new guide dogs and puppy raisers joining the Guide Dog family in the Norwich group. I hope they enjoy the experience.”

Annette thanked everyone who came along to the cream tea and quiz. She also thanked Tesco Harford Bridge for donating tea, coffee and cakes, and Tesco Aylsham for donating scones, butter, jam and the cream. To find out how you can raise money for guide dogs, visit www.guidedogs.org.uk and see the Norwich Guide Dog Fundraising Facebook page.

TIME FOR TEA: A fundraising tea party was held at Maingay House in Aylsham.