North Canterbury News: August 10, 2023

NEWS
The North Canterbury News, August 10, 2023
21
Pawgust challenge
By JOHN COSGROVE
Plenty to offer ... Trish Littlewood arranges her offerings at her garage sale site.
PHOTO JOHN COSGROVE
Bargainhunters galore
By JOHN COSGROVE
The GreatOxfordGarage Sale Trail
once again attractedalarge number
of hopefulbargainhunterstoOxford
on Sunday.
For vendors and buyers there
were 40 sale sites scattered around
the rural community.
Following amap supplied by
organisersOxfordPromotions
Action Committee, visitors walked
through many garages and street
side stalls looking for odd bits and
pieces.
Resident Trish Littlewoodsaid
she loved the concept.
‘‘It’sagreatidea and Ihave
enjoyed my first time selling at the
Great Oxford Garage Sale.’’
She saidshe was amazed at the
numbers waiting for her gates to
open at 9am.
OxfordPlaycentrestall helper
Anna Clement saidthe weather
playedabigpart in the success of
the day.
‘‘It was perfect, there werelots of
eager people early in the day all
looking for bargains.’’
Answering acall to take the lead, semiretired
agedcare worker Tom Jacobs
of Rangiora is walkingtoraise money
for the training of Guide Dogs in New
Zealand.
AccompanyingTom on his Pawgust
challenge this month, will be his eightmonth­oldGoldenRetriever,
Ella.
‘‘This is my firstPawgust, and we are
hoping to raise at least $500over
August,’’ saysTom.
He plans to walk at least five
kilometres aday, rain or shine, in and
around his suburb of Arlington and
northern Rangiora, to achievethe goal
and help in the training of GuideDogs
to supportblind and low­vision
sufferersinNew Zealand.
It costs over $50,000 to breed, raise
and train justone Guide Dog.
‘‘I needpeople’s help so that
together, we can create aworldwhere
everyonewho needsaGuide Dog has a
GuideDog.’’
To date6266 PAWticipants are
taking part in the fundraising
challengeduringPawgust.
PAWsome supPAWtershave raised
over $343,060tofundthe training of
guidedogs in New Zealand and
Australia.
‘‘Allthe funds Iraise will go to
training dogs here in New Zealand,’’
says Tom.
He cameacross the fundraiser when
he saw it advertised in abrochure at
his mother­in­law's home in Charles
UphamVillage.
‘‘My wife Sonja and Iusuallywalk
5.4kms aday withElla, so we thought it
wouldmake anice way to contribute to
this fundraisingactivity.’’
He says participants set atarget of
distanceand fundraising, log on and
walk it together.
Nice walk ... Tom Jacobs and his eight
month old Golden Retriever Ella, enjoy their
morning fundraising walks in Rangiora,
during Pawgust, anational drive to support
the funding of Guide Dogs for blind and lowvision
people.
PHOTO: JOHN COSGROVE
‘‘It’s agood fitness challenge as
Pawgust helps us work withElla to
trainher, and we all keep fit at the
same time.’’
Areyou
aWaititi?
No matterwho you
are, yourcreative
project may be
eligible for funding.
waimakariri.govt.nz/creative
The second round of applications for the
year will open on Friday 28 July and close on
Monday 28 August 2023.
#ArtsForAllKinds
Or more of
aWhitney?
The Creative Communities Schemesupports
local artists to create. Visit your nearest
Waimakariri Library toget help with your
funding application.