Liver Building and St George's Hall lit up to mark start of Guide Dogs Week

Both the Liver Building and St George’s Hall stood out for the Guide Dogs charity on Saturday, which has helped thousands of people with impaired vision and sight loss.

St George's Hall lit up for Guide Dogs.

Supporters of the charity – founded in Wallasey in 1931 – walked from the statue of the first guide dog outside New Brighton’s Floral Pavilion to the ferry terminal, before travelling to Pier Head in time to see the Guide Dogs logo projected onto the Liver Building at sunset.

St George’s Hall was lit up in the charity’s colours of blue and yellow.

The display marked the beginning of Guide Dogs Week 2015, which runs until Sunday.

Supporters set off from the Floral Pavilion. Picture by Geoff Davies.

The charity hopes to raise £1 million during the week-long awareness campaign – its biggest target ever – to help the charity continue its life-changing work making sure that people in the UK who lose their sight don’t lose their freedom as well.

Local resident Naomi Ditchfield and her guide dog Dixie will be among those attending the event.

She said: “I would never have gone into town at night like this before I got Dixie – she’s brilliant.

“I’m so made up I want to tell everyone how good it is having a guide dog. I wish I’d done it years ago.”

Life has changed dramatically for Naomi.

From being frightened to go out on her own and leading a very restricted social life, she now thinks nothing of travelling to conferences in Newcastle, concerts in Blackpool and visiting friends in London.

She added: “I’d never have dreamed of going all that before – now my kids say I’m never in.”

Nina Swindells and Jan Johnston from 'Guide Dogs in Training' with their dogs Lynn & Maggie preparing for the walk. Picture by Geoff Davies

There are lots of ways to get involved and Stand Out for Guide Dogs this Guide Dogs Week.

In Merseyside, these include:

• Let’s Glow Collect – donate an hour of your time to take part in a neon bucket collection in the city centre on 9th and 10th
• Let’s Glow Party – hold on a neon social event with your friends
• Let's Glow Friday – donate and dress in neon on Friday 9 October
• Let’s Glow and Give – donate through the Guide Dogs Week website
• Sponsor a guide dog puppy
• Buy neon gifts from the Guide Dogs online shop dogalogue.com

Ruth Graham with daughters Molly & Maisy with Misty preparing for the Guide Dog walk. Picture by Geoff Davies.

Guide Dog Volunteer Steve Joiner from Woodchurch with his dog Jodie preparing for the walk. Picture by Geoff Davies.