IPSWICH Lions are helping to make the Evening Star's Christmas appeal a roaring success - and have given £500 to help pay for guide dog puppy Star's training.

Richard Cornwell

IPSWICH Lions are helping to make the Evening Star's Christmas appeal a roaring success - and have given £500 to help pay for guide dog puppy Star's training.

Members of the Lions Club of Ipswich met cuddly nine-week-old Star as they presented the money to the appeal.

President Bill Murton said the club was delighted to be involved and hoped to add another £500 from its big annual fundraising swimming gala next year.

He said: “Guide dogs play such a crucial role in our society and they do fantastic work.

“We had some money left in our fundraising pot and had been looking out for a special cause to support.

“We are delighted to help the appeal. Star is a fantastic little puppy and we are sure she is going to make someone a great guide dog when she is trained and will do a brilliant job in helping a blind person.”

The appeal aims to raise £10,000 to help pay for Star's training so that she can become the eyes of a blind or visually-impaired person, setting them free to enjoy a much more fulfilled life.

The Labrador is undergoing the first phase of her training with her puppy walker Penny Parker, with whom she will spend the next year getting acclimatised to all sorts of different everyday experiences.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

We want the whole community to get involved with the appeal.

Every penny and pound will count and ensure Star gets the best care and training - so 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.

- Have you been helped by Guide Dogs for the Blind? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk