Release: 07/VB/011
Date: January 2007

Larkhall guide dog prepares for an even bigger Travis’ Trek in 2007

Travis the intrepid guide dog, and his equally adventurous owner Scott Cunningham, are once again preparing for their annual Travis’ Trek, this time walking 270 miles in 16 days to raise money for The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. However this year they are daring to go over the border by beginning their challenge in England before coming back to their home country of Scotland to finish.

The daring duo will attempt to conquer The Pennine Way, considered one of the most difficult walks in the UK, beginning their journey on Thursday 10 May in Edale, Derbyshire. Over the next 16 days they will make their way along the Pennine Ridge, through the Yorkshire Dales up into Northumberland, across the Cheviots until they cross the border to Scotland, finishing their marathon trek on Friday 25 May in Kirk Yetholm.

And the reason for walking these 270 miles? Scott’s guide dog Travis.

“Since I was partnered with Travis in 2003, he has given me the inspiration to tackle challenges that I did not think possible”, Scott commented. “He has given me life changing freedom and independence and because of Travis’ Treks, we have been able to raise £40,000 for Guide Dogs, the charity that has given me my wonderful guide dog.

“The Treks have also made Travis the first guide dog to have successfully tackled the three biggest long distance walks in Scotland; West Highland Way, Speyside Way and the Southern Upland Way. Now we have had to break out of Scotland and begin our latest trek in England, hoping to raise as much money as possible to help change other visually impaired people’s lives”.

Sharon Morgan, Guide Dogs’ Local Fundraising Coordinator commented: “Scott and Travis have shown real dedication to fundraising for Guide Dogs with Travis’ Treks. Raising £40,000 is an amazing amount and we all hope this year they raise the most money ever to help make an even bigger difference to the lives of blind and partially sighted people all over the UK.

“It costs £10 per day to breed, train and support each of the 4,700 guide dog partnerships in the UK and as we receive no Government funding, every penny raised from Travis’ Treks makes a real change to people’s lives”.

For more information on Travis’ trek, to donate online or find out more about their new fundraising initiative for 2007, donating by text, please visit www.travistrek.co.uk or call Scott direct on 07979 956 932.

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Note to Editors

For further media information, please contact Chris Dyson or Vicky Bell in Guide Dogs’ Communications Department on 0118 983 8281 or 8379 (mobile: 07768 523996) or log-on to our website: www.guidedogs.org.uk