TO celebrate National Volunteer Week, Guide Dogs WA staff, volunteers, supporters and clients are taking the plunge and skydiving from more than 4.2km above Rockingham Beach on Saturday, May 13.
Among the skydivers are three guide dog users and Guide Dogs WA’s chief executive Dr Clare Allen.
Kaylene Brennan received Guide Dog Willow in 2011.
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READ NOW“I lost sight in my right eye when I was 23 due to diabetic retinopathy, a rare complication for diabetes sufferers,” she said.
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“Two years after losing vision in my right eye, I lost vision in my left.
“At this point I was forced to step away from a career I loved as a primary school teacher.
“Thanks to the generous support of the community I received much-needed services in my local area, including training with my wonderful guide dog Willow.”
The skydive will raise money for the training of the next generation of guide dogs.
Ms Brennan is encouraging others in the community to join her for the skydive.
“It’s an amazing job these dogs do,” she said.
“They change a person’s life and Guide Dogs WA rely on fundraising to make it happen.”
With less than eight weeks until the big day, Ms Brennan has already smashed her $2000 fundraising goal and hopes to continue her hard work in the lead up to the jump.
To register for the skydive visit http://bit.ly/D4Dregistration or donate at http://bit.ly/D4D-2017.
Visit www.guidedogswa.com.au.
Guide Dog WA facts
* It takes a minimum of two years and costs more than $35,000 to train a guide dog and Guide Dogs WA is reliant on the generous support of the community to fund the Guide Dog program.
* More than 40,000 West Australians are blind or vision impaired, and this figure is expected to double by 2020.
* To ensure fair access for all, guide dogs are provided free of charge to a person who is blind or vision impaired.
* Guide Dogs can go anywhere their handler goes by law, with only a few exceptions.
* It is important not to pat, feed or talk to a guide dog or guide dog in training.