HELP us to set a blind person free!That's the rallying call to the people of Suffolk today as we start out on our appeal to raise £10,000 to pay for the training of a new guide dog who will be the eyes of her visually-impaired owner.

Richard Cornwell

HELP us to set a blind person free!

That's the rallying call to the people of Suffolk today as we start out on our appeal to raise £10,000 to pay for the training of a new guide dog who will be the eyes of her visually-impaired owner.

That's how much it will cost to train cute and cuddly puppy Star - named after Britain's Daily Newspaper of the Year - but the job she will eventually do is priceless.

Her work in looking after and guiding someone who is blind or sight-impaired will enable that person to live a much richer and fuller life, to get out and about on their own, to be free and enjoy real independence.

That's the gift we want our Christmas appeal to bring this year, a present which will make a real difference to someone's life.

Evening Star editor Nigel Pickover said: “Star is a beautiful puppy and everyone who meets her is bowled over by how gorgeous she is.

“But the really important thing is the work she will eventually do.

“She will have an enormous impact on someone's life - she will set that person free and give them the confidence and ability to live their lives in a different way.

“With the help of people in Suffolk we can ensure this happens.”

Companies, groups and organisations are being encouraged to hold fundraising events to support the appeal and help pay for Star's training, the first phase of which she has now embarked upon.

During the next 12 months she will be acclimatised to a wide variety of situations - getting used to busy town centres, noisy crowds, children, sudden sounds, crossing roads, public transport, going in and out of buildings, anywhere her blind owner might need to go.

One of her first trips was to meet youngsters at Kingsfleet Craft Club in Felixstowe.

The children presented Star with welcome cards they had made and her bed, which they made from patchwork quilted squares, designed with dog pictures and a big yellow star as the centrepiece.

“It is lovely - they had worked really hard and they had all helped make the squares, tack and machine them,” said Star's puppy walker Penny Parker.

“Star is sleeping in it and has christened it with a wee!”

- Has your family been helped by the Guide Dogs - tell us your stories about this amazing charity: write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

The aim is to raise £10,000 to help with the cost of Star's training - and we want the whole community to get involved with the appeal.

Every penny and pound will count and ensure that the little puppy get the best care and training as she is prepared to do the job of guiding someone who lives every day of their lives with the blight of blindness.

If you are organising a fundraising event for the appeal, then we want to hear so we can give it maximum publicity and help boost the amount raised.

So let us know what you are up to - get in touch with Richard Cornwell at the Felixstowe Newsdesk on 01394 284109 or the Ipswich Newsdesk on 01473 324788.

To donate to the appeal, please send cheques - made payable to the Guide Dogs - to Richard Cornwell, Evening Star, 172 Hamilton Road, Felixstowe, IP11 7DU.