Child needs a service dog

Photo: Contributed

A fundraiser is being held this Sunday to help provide a local child with a service dog.

Four-year-old Cheysa has a severe vision disability, leaving her legally blind in her left eye.

“Although she functions fairly well, we have noticed a number of safety issues as she becomes more active,” said her mother Wendy Goudie.

“When she looks to see if it is safe to cross roads and parking lots, she can’t see cars and people coming. In crowds, she loses sight of us if we are not very close. She is often tentative when we approach because she is unsure who it is.”

Goudie says a service dog would help Cheysa navigate the world better, and they have found a 2.5-year-old golden retriever that is currently going through pre-training in Alberta. Between $2500 and $3000 is needed to complete the dog's training once it gets to Penticton.

The event on Sunday at Cannery Brewing runs from 4-6 p.m., with a suggested donation of $10.

Cheysa's parents run Get Bent Yoga and Dance, and the studio will be offering up salsa dance lessons. In a “patch challenge,” people can participate in challenges wearing a patch for prizes. Door prizes and a silent auction will also be held.

Those unable to make the event can also contribute through a GoFundMe page, or with a silent auction contribution that can be dropped off at either Cannery Brewing or Get Bent.