A MUNDON boy is raising funds to help provide guide dogs for blind and visually impaired people.
Dog lover Patrick Adger, 11, has taken over his mum’s garden to grow fruit and vegetables, which he is using to make jam and chutneys to sell in aid of charity.
Patrick loves working with guide dogs, so frequently helps with Guide Dogs Chelmsford collections across Essex.
He told the Standard: “I like doing it because I like to help people.”
For Patrick, who has been fundraising since he was just nine years old, his passion goes further than his love for working with guide dogs.
“My nan is partially sighted, which is difficult,” he said.
“She used to pick me up from school but she can’t now because her eyesight is so bad.
“It makes me feel sad – I wouldn’t want to be blind.”
There are more than 325,000 blind and partially sighted people in the UK, but only 3,000 guide dogs available.
Patrick says it is important to get more guide dogs trained so they can give those struggling with a loss of vision more confidence.
The charity is so grateful for Patrick’s support that they want him to name a guide dog, mum Danielle says.
“I’m very proud of Patrick,” she said.
But in order to name a guide dog, Patrick needs to raise £2,500 for the charity.
The family is working harder than ever to make and sell homemade preserves to reach Patrick’s fundraising target.
Danielle said: “He’s very good at making jams, but not so good at cleaning up the kitchen afterwards.
“My garden is very small, so I’m quite proud of how much we’ve managed to grow.
“We’ve made 50 jars in the last two weeks, which have all got to be ready to go on sale in time for Christmas.”
While on a recent caravan holiday, a park resident allowed the family to pick her greengages and apples, to be made into jam.
“We’ve got a long way to go, but every little helps,” Danielle added.
To donate to Patrick’s fundraiser, visit justgiving.com/page/patrick-adger-1
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