Formerly known as the Guide Dog Appeal, the Red Puppy campaign gives the appeal a fresh and fun look and will feature irresistibly cute guide dog puppies in their red coats – i.e. Red Puppies!

“Every year the addition of more charities asking for help makes it harder and harder to fundraise. And with no government funding for guide dogs it’s imperative that we have the support of the public and collectors on the streets during the appeal,” says Patrick Holmes, RNZFB Divisional Manager Fundraising.

"The difference a guide dog makes in a blind person's life is immeasurable. But they're expensive and unfortunately there are people waiting for over a year or even going without a guide dog.”

With the launch of a new campaign you can expect to see lots of fabulous red puppies. But the serious message behind the appeal is still the same – guide dogs make a huge difference in the lives of blind, deafblind and vision-impaired New Zealanders, but without the necessary funds people are missing out.

Help the red puppies bring independence to a blind, deafblind or vision-impaired person’s life - become a volunteer collector. If you have as little as one hour to spare between 30 March – 1 April please phone 0800 REDPUPPY (0800 733 787) to speak with your nearest RNZFB Regional Fundraising Manager or visit www.redpuppy.org.nz

It costs over $22,500 to breed, train and match a guide dog with a blind, deafblind or vision-impaired New Zealander.

The RNZFB is the primary provider of vision-related rehabilitation services to 11,700 blind, deafblind and vision-impaired New Zealanders.

ENDS

For more information please contact:

Jane Gower, RNZFB Communications Co-ordinator, Ph: 09 355 6884 or 021 357 412

Sarah Byers, RNZFB Communications Co-ordinator, Ph: 09 355 6906 or 021 752 875