The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association

Want to join me in making a difference? I’m raising money in memory of my dear Mum Pat Watts, to benefit The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, and any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that meant so much to my Mum and to me. My Mum fought to maintain her independence? Having a guide dog helps many people with a vision impairment live independently and lead useful and fulfilling lives. My Nan Iris (Pat's mother) liked to paint she always said she felt so much, for anyone who was unable to see the beauty in the world. I myself was a teacher of visual impairment for 19 years. I am passionate about the good work Guide Dogs do and have seen the positive impact their work has particularly on young people I worked with.

More information about The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association: Guide Dogs exists to provide life-changing services to the 360,000 people who are registered blind or partially sighted, and the two million people in the UK living with sight loss. We are best known for our world-famous guide dogs, but our work now encompasses so much more. In recent years, we have expanded our services beyond our dogs to help thousands of people with different needs lead confident, independent and fulfilling lives.

Hello i'm Katie :) On Sunday April 12th, 2026 I will be running the London Landmarks Half Marathon in support of The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association!

Guide Dogs provide life-changing services to the 360,000 people who are registered blind or partially sighted, and the two million people in the UK living with sight loss. Many of these individuals without the support of Guide Dogs would be limited in their every day lives, feeling vulnerable ands isolated. The support of a Guide Dog vastly impacts the lives of visually impaired individuals, offering not only enhanced mobility and safety but also increased independence and confidence. These highly trained companions help navigate obstacles, reduce reliance on others, and provide emotional support, significantly improving their owners quality of life.

Guide Dogs mission is deeply personal to myself and my family! As volunteers for the charity, my family have had the privilege of being puppy raisers to 3 gorgeous dogs over the past 3 years; Chris, Primrose and Vena. These dogs dedication, intelligence, and companionship not only offer independence and confidence to their service user but have also had a profound influence on my own life. Each dog has allowed me to be a witness to the challenges they have faced and overcome, allowing them, with the hard work and guidance of registered guide dog trainers to flourish into 2 dedicated guide dogs and 1 soon to be breeder! Being a part of this community and being fortunate enough to remain in contact with our puppies new owners has enabled me to witness firsthand the irrefutable impact these dogs have on a persons quality of life, and the freedom it provides the individual which they otherwise may not have had.

Running the marathon in support of Guide Dogs has enabled me the opportunity to give back to an undeniably worthy charity, raising vital funds and awareness; helping more people to benefit from the life changing freedom that these dogs provide, whilst doing something I love! Please make a contribution if if you can as every donation can help make such a big difference to someones life!

I am running the London marathon to raise money for this amazing charity. Since my sister began working for them I have learnt more about the incredible work they do and the difference they can make.

Guide Dogs is here to help people with sight loss live the life they choose. As a charity, Guide Dogs is almost entirely funded by donations. It takes £102,000 to turn one puppy full of potential into a life-changing guide dog, and Guide Dogs pays for everything - nobody who has a guide dog has to pay towards their dog, Guide Dogs covers the whole cost.

Guide Dogs also provides support for children and young people with sight loss and campaigns for a more accessible world for people with a vision impairment.

Please consider donating if you are able, thank you!

In loving memory of Colin Goodrum, we kindly invite you to consider making a donation to Guide Dogs, a charity that was very close to Colin’s heart. He was especially proud to sponsor a guide dog named Millie, whose journey he followed regularly which brought him great joy and happiness.

The remarkable work carried out by Guide Dogs transforms lives every day, helping people living with sight loss gain independence, confidence, and the freedom to live life to the fullest. A donation in Colin’s memory would be a meaningful way to honour his kindness and support a cause he truly believed in.

I am running the London Landmarks Half Marathon on 12 April 2026 to raise funds for Guide Dogs and any amount donated will be generously matched by KHA Design—thank you so much for your support.

I’m running the London Landmarks Half Marathon… and if you know me, you’ll know how ridiculous that sounds as 12 months ago I could barely run a 5k.

Whoever says they enjoy running is lying but yet… here we are.

I’m pushing myself way out of my comfort zone (13.1 miles out of it ) because I believe the cause is worth it.

Guide Dogs don’t just raise puppies (although yes, ridiculously cute ) – they train and transform them into life-changing companions. These amazing dogs give people living with sight loss independence, freedom, and confidence. But this doesn’t happen without support – it costs a huge amount to train each puppy into the superhero they become

Your donation – big or small – will help turn those adorable pups into fully-trained guide dogs who can change lives.

Thank you

‍♂️ Charity Run in Support of Guide Dogs – Friday 31st January 2025

It’s time to train and prepare for TEAM E upcoming Charity Run taking place after the second early turn on Saturday 31st January 2025. This event aims to raise funds for Guide Dogs, which is my chosen charity for the event!

Any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

More information about The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association: Guide Dogs exists to provide life-changing services to the 360,000 people who are registered blind or partially sighted, and the two million people in the UK living with sight loss. We are best known for our world-famous guide dogs, but our work now encompasses so much more.

Lesley passed away on Monday

1st December 2025. It was sudden and a shock to me and all our family and friends. The funeral is being held at 15.30 on Tuesday 6th January 2026 (our wedding anniversary) at Draycott burial ground w3w///steer.thumb.typical

located behind St Peter's church.

We ask that only flowers from close family please

Should you want to make a donation we were keen to support Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. In lockdown we brought up Mary and have boarded many other guide dogs since, so in memory of Lesley we ask that you make a donation to this very worthwhile cause.

Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that meant so much to us.

More information about The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association: Guide Dogs exists to provide life-changing services to the 360,000 people who are registered blind or partially sighted, and the two million people in the UK living with sight loss. We are best known for our world-famous guide dogs, but our work now encompasses so much more. In recent years, we have expanded our services beyond our dogs to help thousands of people with different needs lead confident, independent and fulfilling lives.

Help Us Support Jeffrey, my Retired Guide Dog.

My wonderful retired guide dog, Jeffrey, has become very poorly. He has spent the last two days and nights at the vets, where we’ve learned he has a tumour on his spleen and signs of liver damage. He now needs urgent, specialist scans to understand the full extent of what’s going on.

There is a possibility he may need an operation to remove his spleen, but until the scans are completed, we simply don’t know what the next steps will be.

Many people may recognise Jeffrey from the day he went viral on X (https://x.com/footballontnt/status/1710617802657103950) with over 8 million views during the Premier League match between Luton Town and Tottenham at Kenilworth Road. He brought so much joy to so many that day—just as he has brought joy, independence, and love to me throughout his working life.

The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association have kindly stepped in to cover his veterinary bills, and I am deeply grateful for their support. Jeffrey gave me years of independence, loyalty, and love, and I would really like to contribute towards the cost of his care as a way of giving something back.

If you are able to donate—no matter the amount—it would mean so much to me, my family, and I’m sure to Guide Dogs as well. Jeffrey has given so much throughout his life, and we want to make sure he receives the very best care in return.

Thank you for reading Jeffrey’s story and for any support you can offer.

Why I’m raising money for Guide Dogs UK

I’m raising money for Guide Dogs UK because I’m visually impaired myself, and I know first-hand how life-changing their work is.

Over the past few years, my vision has declined, and alongside that I began to neglect my own health and wellbeing. What started as a physical challenge slowly became a mental one too. I reached a point where I realised I needed to take control again — not just of my fitness, but of my life.

That’s why I’ve started a public fat-to-fit journey, documenting my weight loss and training online while raising awareness and funds for Guide Dogs UK along the way.

What I’m doing to raise money

I’m committing to this journey publicly across social media, sharing workouts, progress, and setbacks in real time. For every new follower I gain, I add an extra step to my daily step count, and I donate 1p to Guide Dogs UK. This allows people to support the cause simply by following along, engaging, and spreading awareness — with optional donations for anyone who wants to contribute more directly.

This challenge isn’t just about fitness. It’s about accountability, resilience, and showing what’s possible when you rebuild structure and purpose — even when life throws obstacles in the way.

Why Guide Dogs UK matters

Guide Dogs UK supports people living with sight loss to live confident, independent, and fulfilling lives. While they are best known for their guide dogs, their work goes far beyond that — providing mobility training, emotional support, and practical services to hundreds of thousands of people across the UK.

Supporting this charity means supporting independence, dignity, and opportunity for people like me.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and for any support you’re able to give — whether that’s donating, sharing, or simply following the journey.

It genuinely means more than you know. ❤️

Do you want to join me in making a difference? I'm raising money in aid of The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and every donation will help. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

More information about The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association: Guide Dogs exists to provide life-changing services to the 360,000 people who are registered blind or partially sighted, and the two million people in the UK living with sight loss. We are best known for our world-famous guide dogs, but our work now encompasses so much more. In recent years, we have expanded our services beyond our dogs to help thousands of people with different needs lead confident, independent and fulfilling lives.