Community Supports Annual Walk for Dog Guides

The Martensville and District Lions Club, alongside the Saskatoon Lions Club, welcomed community members to the annual Walk for Dog Guides on May 31st in Martensville.
The annual fundraiser helps provide highly trained Dog Guides to individuals living with visual impairments, autism, seizures, medical conditions, and other disabilities. Service dogs can cost between $35,000 and more than $50,000 to raise and train, but are provided to qualifying recipients at no cost thanks to fundraising efforts and community support.
This year’s event also paid tribute to longtime Lions Club member Doug Ward, who passed away on the morning of last year’s walk. Ward was passionate about the annual fundraiser and played a key role in its continued success locally. In his honour, this year’s event, along with future walks, was designated as the ‘Walk for Doug.’
Participants gathered at Lions Park before taking part in a marked walk to Kinsmen Park to enjoy a treat from Cones, as well as hydration stations and pup cups for the furry participants. Walkers of all ages, accompanied by their canine companions, enjoyed the scenic route before returning to Lions Park for a community barbecue.
The event brought together supporters from across the community to raise awareness and funds for Dog Guide programs while celebrating the important role service dogs play in the lives of Canadians. In total this year’s participants included 45 dogs, 145 people and the event raised approximately $26,000 to go towards helping local residents recieve a life-altering Dog Guide at no cost.