THE Mayor of Malvern has chosen his new charity to support this year.

Every year the mayor chooses a charity to fundraise for during their twelve months in office and this year, Cllr Nick Houghton has chosen The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, now known as Guide Dogs as his mayoral charity.

Every day 250 people in the UK start to lose their sight and despite the devastation that this causes, 70 per cent of adults receive no support within the first twelve months of diagnosis.

Childhood sight loss is also on the increase with around 35,000 children and young people living with a vision impairment in the UK.

Cllr Houghton said: "I have chosen Guide Dogs as my Mayoral charity because they help make sure people living with sight loss don't lose their freedom as well.

"But more than that, they work with children and adults alike in providing information about sight loss.

"In addition to guide dogs, they also provide “buddy” dogs to children with sight loss to build confidence and well-being.

Malvern Gazette: HELP: Cllr Nick Houghton with a guide dogHELP: Cllr Nick Houghton with a guide dog

"We have set an ambitious fundraising target for 2022/23 of £10,000 as this will enable us to name and train a guide dog puppy, supporting them through their training.

"If we meet our fundraising target, then a competition will be held in Malvern to choose a name for the guide dog."

Malvern Town Council run a number of fundraising events each year including the Mayor’s Bonanza at Victoria Park which this year will be held on August 28, and the Christmas Light Switch On on November 26. 

However, to meet his fundraising target, Cllr Houghton will be hosting some additional events including a Mayor’s Ball on September 2 at The Worcestershire Golf Club and a quiz at The Mount Pleasant Hotel on Friday October 14.

For more details on events please visit the Town Council website www.malverntowncouncil.org or contact Lyndsey Davies, ldavies@malvern-tc.org.uk.

Town Clerk Linda Blake added: "We hope that residents of Malvern will support our fundraising events and activities this year, as every donation, no matter how small, helps."