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Weekly celebrates 60 years of providing guide dogs for the blind

A weekly newspaper has celebrated 60 years of support for a charity on its patch.

The Mansfield Chad has marked the 60th anniversary of its partnership with Guide Dogs.

Since 1961, more than £320,000 has been generated through an appeal for the charity run by the Chad.

It has since provided no fewer than 312 guide dogs for blind and partially-sighted people.

Chad editor Ashley Booker, pictured centre, and former Chad journalist Tony Spittles, second right, hand over the latest £15,000 cheque to representatives from the Guide Dogs charity

Chad editor Ashley Booker, pictured centre, and former Chad journalist Tony Spittles, second right, hand over the latest £15,000 cheque to representatives from the Guide Dogs charity

The latest donation of £15,000 has been handed over by Ashley Booker, the current editor of the Chad, and retired journalist Tony Spittles, who has been the Chad’s driving force behind the appeal.

Ashley said: “I cannot praise enough the fantastic fundraising efforts of Chad readers through the decades.

“To raise the amount we have is truly an astonishing feat, and I was extremely honoured and delighted to present the latest money to Guide Dogs.

“It’s a charity dearly close to our hearts, and I know everyone involved with the fund, especially people like Tony, has worked tirelessly to make sure our partnership with Guide Dogs continues to go from strength to strength. Here’s to the next 60 years.”

Tony, 74, began overseeing the appeal in the late 1970s.

He said: “Donors have ranged from families giving in memory of someone who had died to children giving their pocket money.

“In good times and in bad times, people have donated — from those who gave £1 and wanted it on the front page to those who gave £5,000 and didn’t want a dickie-bird of publicity.

“Some donations have been made anonymously, while others have come with cryptic messages. But as Tesco says, every little helps.”

Eleanor Stephens, regional marketing and communications manager for the charity, added: “We’d like to say a massive thank you to the readers of the Chad.

“In February 1961, its columnist, Anne Agayne, launched a one-off appeal to readers to help raise funds to train a guide dog.

“The target for readers was £250, at a time when the average weekly wage was just £13.

“The first target was soon reached and, in April 1963, the first Chad guide dog was born.

“Ever since, the newspaper and its readers have continued to support us, with the latest donation of £15,000 received in April.

“Thank you to everyone involved in this amazing campaign. You’ve helped to change the lives of so many people living with sight loss.”