A Sheffield charity is hosting a Santa Claus walk this month to raise money for support dogs across the UK.
The specialist assistance animals provide life-changing support for people with epilepsy, autism and physical disabilities who need help performing daily and essential tasks.
Danny Anderson, Fundraising Manager at Support Dogs, said: “It can be live saving and gives people their independence back. We have clients who are parents now and they wouldn’t be able to hold, or be alone with their children, but their dogs help them.
“It means they can leave their home and be okay and know they have their dog there to support them.”
The walk aims to raise money for the charity and also encourage people to volunteer to help socialise puppies before they are old enough to attend school or foster dogs in training.
Mr Anderson said: “It’s been a lovely event for us in the past. It’s about getting people who are dog lovers or walking lovers or just love the idea of our charity to get them out on a lovely crisp winter morning, going out and have a lovely walk raising money for our charity.
People who wish to take part in the walk are encouraged to bring their own dogs who will be given a goody bag after completing the trail.
“There’s lots of opportunity to eat cake and lots of opportunity to dress up and look silly,” Mr Anderson said.
According to statistics from 2018/19, fundraising and donations from individuals, groups and businesses accounted for 46% of the charity’s income.
Mr Anderson: “We provide all our services entirely free of charge and the cost of living and inflation has hit small charities like us really hard.”
The annual Santa Paws Walk is set to take place on 11 December and will be setting off from Endcliffe Park before splitting into three different routes, including an accessible 3km trail.
To participate in the event, entrants are asked to pay £10, which includes a free Santa hat and some cake at the end of the route.
