A GUIDE dog puppy is taking her first steps towards changing the life of someone with sight loss, thanks to staff and customers at a Johnstone supermarket.

The Morrisons team have been fundraising for the Guide Dogs charity’s Name a Puppy initiative and their latest four-legged recruit to begin training is 14-month-old Hope, whose name was chosen by staff during the coronavirus pandemic.

Most of the supermarket’s in-store fundraising activities had to be put on pause due to lockdown restrictions but staff have still managed to coin in £10,000 for the scheme using life-size, dog-shaped donation boxes and bucket collections.

The Gazette: Keith Brownlie, former regional people manager at Morrisons, and Julie Scott, the Johnstone store’s community champion, with HopeKeith Brownlie, former regional people manager at Morrisons, and Julie Scott, the Johnstone store’s community champion, with Hope

Julie Scott, who is community champion at the Napier Street store, told The Gazette: “We started fundraising for Guide Dogs after a local volunteer visited and spoke about how her guide dog has made a huge difference to her life.

“Our store decided to take part in Name a Puppy – and Hope is the second puppy we have raised funds to name.

“When we heard we had reached our fundraising target during the pandemic, we decided on the name Hope, as it seemed fitting for us, looking forward to the future and the end of the pandemic.

“Whichever role puppy Hope ends up in, we hope she will give someone hope of a brighter future.”

The Gazette: Newly-named puppy Hope with one of the collection boxesNewly-named puppy Hope with one of the collection boxes

Staff have previously named a guide dog puppy Mojo and now plan to raise enough funds to name a third pooch.

Kyla McVicar, business development manager at Guide Dogs, said: “We can’t thank the team at Morrisons in Johnstone enough and we are truly grateful to everyone involved for their continued support.

“Guide Dogs relies on fundraising and donations, so it’s only through the support of the local community and businesses like Morrisons that we can continue our life-changing work for people living with sight loss.

“Well done and a huge thank-you to everyone involved, including all the very generous customers.”

Guide Dogs’ purpose is to provide life-changing services for people living with sight loss, as well as their friends and family.

To find out more about the charity’s work and naming a guide dog puppy, visit www.guidedogs.org.uk/how-you-can-help/fundraise/name-a-puppy.