A CHARITY that first started in Wirral more than 80 years is encouraging people to get in to the festive spirit by holding a fundraiser in their honour.

Guide Dogs - founded in Wallasey in 1931 - is calling on people to hold cheese and wine nights, mince pie bakes offs and even full on Christmas dinners to raise money for the charity.

Your donations will help to change lives. Every hour, another person in the UK goes blind. When someone loses their sight, the charity Guide Dogs is there to make sure they don’t lose their freedom as well.

Guide Dogs relies on donations from individuals to continue their life-changing work.

Without it, they wouldn’t be able to fund our vital services and develop new ways to bring mobility and independence to people who are blind or partially sighted like 32-year-old Vicky from Liverpool.

Vicky said: “Being a mum at Christmas is being a part of the Christmas preparations, buying and wrapping gifts.

"When I lost my sight I felt excluded and more like a stagnant Christmas decoration, useless and like a Grinch, but since the amazing Dickens arrived my Christmas's are full of sparkle and cheer. 

"I can shop for my children and family and fully enjoy the spirit of Christmas. You will find us both in Liverpool One doing the Christmas rush on Christmas Eve just like everyone else."

The guide dog service does not receive any government funding.

Festive fundraisers, whether they be at work or at home, can make a massive difference to the charity's work. You could help make another magical partnership like Vicky and Dickens.