John Billings and Que, one of many guide dogs John has raised over the years

Gorgeous guide dog Ziggy and I recently appealed to delegates at the Association of Dispensing Opticians New Zealand (ADONZ) conference to help support Guide Dog Services by buying a dog – a toy dog that is!

We tempted donors with 40 cuddly miniature trainee guide-dog puppies, which were a big hit with the ADONZ crowd – the pups were all sold out!

Thanks to everyone who donated, and to Optica for its support at the event as the hub for collections and donation forms and for donating 15 Billings pupillary distance rulers to the first 15 people to donate. So far, we have raised $2,800 – an awesome achievement!

Guide Dog Services is an arm of Blind Low Vision NZ (BLVNZ), which provides Kiwis who are blind, deafblind or have low vision with the practical and emotional support to help them live the life they choose. Currently, it costs about $175,000 to successfully deploy a guide dog into service. Some BLZNZ services, including guide dogs, receive no government funding and rely solely on the generosity of donors: over 70% of funds come from donations, regular giving or bequests.

You can still make a donation as part of the ADONZ appeal, just email me johnbillingsoptician@gmail.com or phone BLVNZ 0800 787 743. When donating, please quote reference EVA 10025, so your contribution is connected to the right appeal. You can donate with a one-off cash donation, a credit card donation, or as a monthly giver. Thank you!

John Billings is a Wellington dispensing optician specialising in low vision and a director for the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind, BLVNZ’s governing body.