Travel Village Group staff are supporting a campaign by the son of one of its homeworkers to raise £10,000 after the death of his lifelong companion.
Callum, 24, son of Holiday Village personal travel consultant Tracy Stoneman, was born with Norrie Disease, which meant he was blind from birth.
In 2016, Callum was matched with his first guide dog Iggy, a labrador sponsored by BBC children’s show Blue Peter. Iggy became his “knight in shining armour”, helping him to become independent.
But at the end of February this year Iggy died after a short battle with cancer. In the seven years Callum had Iggy, he had moved out of the family home, been to university, started working full-time, got married and been travelling.
Now mum Tracy, with the backing of Travel Village Group, is helping her son reach a target of £10,000 for the charity Guide Dogs to name another puppy Iggy and pay for some of its training as a guide dog.
Describing Guide Dogs as a “life-changing charity”, she said: “Iggy was Blue Peter’s sponsored dog and was matched with Callum when he was 17. Iggy helped him get to college, move out of home and go to university. She was there throughout and helped him with his mobility and confidence.
“Guide Dogs told him Iggy would reach retirement age in six months but in a matter of two days he went from having a little cough to having to be put to sleep. She was nine years old.”
She added: “After seven years by his side this really has been his biggest and most devastating setback.”
While Callum now faces a six stage application process to get on to the 18-month waiting list for a new guide dog, he is keen to raise awareness of Guide Dogs and name one in Iggy’s memory. Around £2,000 is needed to sponsor and name a dog but it costs £50,000 for the training.
Tracy is taking a zip wire ride in Wales at the end of this month to raise funds and joining a 5K fun run in Manchester in June while Travel Village Group has chosen to support Guides Dogs for its April charity challenge.
The group’s content manager Jess Clayton has arranged a mile-long blindfolded walk for staff on Blackpool Promenade this month to raise money for Callum’s cause. Friends and family will guide members of staff along the sea front.
Clayton is also taking part in her own challenge, walking up Snowdon on April 24 while blindfolded and guided by Guide Dogs trainer Yvonne Robinson, who worked with Callum and Iggy on their trips to Blue Peter.
Callum said: “Iggy was the most incredible Guide Dog and companion for seven years, by my side through every up and down in my life, always ready to work and always having her cheeky and playful personality to bring a smile to everyone who met her. Guide Dogs have been amazingly supportive throughout this difficult time.”
So far Callum has raised just over £1,700. To donate, click here