January 23, 2020 12.31 pm This story is over 58 months old

Blind Scunthorpe couple dedicate 40 years to guide dogs

“It was a big trauma when I lost my sight, particularly as I was only 19”
The couple have been given a long service award.

A blind Scunthorpe couple have earned a long service award after volunteering for Guide Dogs for 40 years.

Edward and Lynne Buckley, who are both guide dog owners, were presented with the award earlier this month.

Over the past forty years, the pair have raised money by doing everything from street collections to abseiling from the Humber Bridge.

Lynne started volunteering for Guide Dogs in 1979 after she became a guide dog owner when she was 19-years-old.

Lynne said: “It was a big trauma when I lost my sight, particularly as I was only 19.

“When I was partnered with my first guide dog Bunty, she gave me my independence back and I wasn’t relying on anyone else to take me out.

“Shortly after, I started volunteering for Guide Dogs as a fundraiser because I knew first-hand what a worthwhile organisation it is.”

Lynne’s husband Edward followed his wife’s lead and signed up as a fundraising volunteer for the charity too.

They are inspiring people.

Edward also became a guide dog owner in 2017, with his first guide dog Rolo and Lynne is currently partnered with her fifth guide dog Ice.

The couple are part of the Scunthorpe fundraising group, which has raised nearly £300,000 for Guide Dogs to date.

Edward said: “You could write a book about our time fundraising.

“We’ve seen people as kids donating who are now married and have their own children.

“It’s not so much volunteering for us, it’s a way of life.”

Melanie Brown, volunteering coordinator for Guide Dogs said: “We’d like to say a big thank you to Lynne and Edward for supporting us as volunteer fundraisers for 40 years.

“They are both brilliant volunteers and we really appreciate the hard work and dedication they have shown our organisation.

“Without volunteers, our charity could not continue providing life-changing services to people living with sight loss.”