Member Article

Dog walkers and canine friends called to Walk for Wag

The whistle has been blown – for dog lovers and their dogs if they have them, to step forward to take part in the annual ‘Walk for Wag’ fundraiser for a North East charity, taking part in late September.

Dog walkers and their canine companions are being invited to take to their heels to raise thousands for Wag & Company, a regional charity that works to combat loneliness among older dog lovers.

Walk for Wag, which takes place at Kielder Waterside, in Northumberland, on Saturday September 23, has become a popular event for families and those with dogs. It’s a chance for everyone to get together, older friends too, to walk 10km (with a 3km option) along the beautiful Lakeside Way from the Kielder Waterside - knowing that every sponsored step provides Wag friends for elderly dog lovers.

In pre-Covid years the event raised more than £10,000 for the charity and its activities. Covid disrupted the walk for a couple of years and last year was the first, post-Covid walk raising just over £6,000 for Wag & Company – funding 15 visiting Wag Teams for s whole year, making 450 visits to older people in their own homes.

Diane Morton, Founding Director of Wag & Company, said: “This is such an important fundraiser for us, our volunteers and supporters. Last year was a lovely day out and we hope it will be an even bigger and better supported this year.

“This fabulous family day out would not be possible without all the walkers who support us, the event volunteers but also our business sponsors including Arco who provide all the walker T-shirts and, of course, Northumbrian Water’s team at Kielder who host the event and provide the PA system, radios and free parking for walkers.

“Their senior managers even become part of our set up and event management team, physically helping to support the whole event. This year we’re delighted that the amazing Hexham Uketeers as well as our friends from the Northumbria Police Dog section will be back with us too.”

Diane added: “We’re also launching our own little Waggie Tails Fun Dog Show for walkers, with prizes donated and presented by the talented Alex Clark Art from Corbridge. So, if your dog’s the prettiest or the most handsome, this is their moment!”

Wag & Company was set up seven years ago to tackle loneliness and isolation among older and vulnerable dog lovers in the North East. The charity has a network of hundreds of volunteers who visit older dog lovers in their own homes as well in care homes or medical establishments - the only North East visiting dog charity to visit people at home.

The charity is urgently recruiting more volunteers with dogs and because Wag never charges anyone for their special befriending service, they are always in need of support from people, organisations and care homes who understand the importance of friendship and the company of a dog.

For more information on how to get involved visit the Wag & Company website.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Wag & Co .