Staff at Leyland Trucks have welcomed the newest member of their team to their Lancashire site – a Guide Dog puppy, aptly named after one of its most iconic trucks – Comet.
The 1,000 strong workforce at Leyland Trucks regularly raise cash for local and regional good causes. Its Helping Hand foundation support a range of charities, raising over £50,000 during 2016 alone. However, this is the first time the team pulled together to raise the funds needed to name a Guide Dog puppy, holding fundraising events across the year, from cake sales to sponsored runs.
After donating £2,500 to name a guide dog puppy, the real challenge began – naming the pup. After much deliberation, the team settled on a name which reflected Leyland Trucks’ long heritage – Comet – named after one of its best-selling trucks, made in Lancashire, and sold around the world.
Leyland Trucks first produced the Comet in 1947, as part of its post-WW2 expansion, marking the beginning of the ‘Golden’ age of road transport and the further development of the diesel engine, it ceased UK production in 1995.
To say a special thanks, Guide Dogs visited staff on Friday to thank the team. Fundraising staff had the opportunity to meet local guide dog owners and puppy walkers from the area to see first-hand how their donation has helped to change lives.
Siobhan Cullen, Community fundraising Development Officer, said: “We cannot thank Leyland Trucks Helping Hand enough for their incredible donation. We rely on donations to be able to continue our life-changing service; it really will help to change lives for people living with sight loss.”
Comet will now go on to live with his puppy walker for 12 months before heading into his local training school and becoming a life-changing guide dog.
Helping Hand Chairman Neale Handley said choosing to support this very special puppy hit the right notes with staff, who were all very keen to get involved: “Being able to name a guide dog was a totally new and unique way for us to support a charity. It enabled us to engage our workforce in a competition which resulted in a name that represents our heritage.
“It really was a fun process and to know that our company and its employees have helped a pup through its early stages of training was very rewarding for us all. As he gets older, ‘Comet’ will go on to change someone’s life – which is just incredible. I would encourage any local businesses to get involved like we did at Leyland Trucks.”
Guide Dogs receive no government funding and rely entirely on the support of the public and local companies to continue their work. With lifetime costs totalling more than £50,000 for every working dog trained, the donation received marks a significant step in helping to change the lives of blind and partially sighted adults and children in Leyland and across the UK.
If you would like to find out how you could Name a Puppy call Manchester Mobility Team on 01189 838 715 or email Namea.Puppy@guidedogs.org.uk.
