Don't take that headline too literally. Irish fuel and forecourt retailer Maxol isn't literally going to start powering guide dogs, and please don't try putting diesel into your Labrador.
€53k to train a guide dog
What Maxol is doing is it's going to support Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind. Did you know it can cost as much as €53,000 to train a guide dog? There are currently 360 guide dogs in Ireland, helping and assisting their owners, and that figure includes dogs that are assistants (and, let's face it, friends) for children with autism, but the need, as ever, outstrips the supply.
In selecting the charity, CEO of the Maxol Group, Brian Donaldson explained that it wasn't until he met and spoke to a guide dog owner that he fully appreciated the life-changing impact these highly trained and intuitive dogs can have, giving a person not only confidence but independence too. "With so many charities in need of urgent funding selecting just one to which we will commit our resources is hugely challenging. But when we looked not only at the work of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind but the positive and tangible impact the charity can have on so many people's lives - children, adults, and their families - we saw a really compelling case. This is a national organisation but with a strong and widespread community presence, much like our own business, and together with our local retailers we are looking forward to getting behind their work and ensuring Maxol makes a difference" said Donaldson.
Fund-raising activities
Over the course of the two-year partnership, Maxol, Ireland's leading family-owned forecourt and convenience retailer, aims to support the charity by increasing awareness and the impact of the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind's work. The family-owned company has also committed to funding the training of at least six assistance dogs. Maxol will be carrying out fund-raising activities at all 240 of its service stations.
Tim O'Mahony, Chief Executive Officer of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind said: "We are delighted to be chosen as Maxol's charity partner. Their support will have a huge impact; ensuring that we can deliver more guide dogs and assistance dogs over the next two years - essentially bringing independence and mobility to the lives of our clients and many families. The partnership will have a life-changing impact across communities as we develop links with our nationwide volunteer branches and their local service stations. Many blind and visually impaired people experience isolation and fear, and doing things that most people take for granted such as going shopping, attending college or work, having a social life and travelling can present enormous challenges. The dogs trained by the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind offer a lifeline to people in these situations, allowing them to live their lives with a newfound sense of safety, mobility, and independence."
Dogs for autism too
For children with autism and their families, assistance dogs can be incredibly impactful. These dogs are trained specifically to work with autistic children, acting as a calming presence, helping with behaviour regulation, and improving social skills and confidence.
Maxol's support will also be directed cross-border as Guide Dogs NI will be included in the fund-raising programme. Maxol's six-year partnership with mental health charity Aware, which concluded this year, raised more than €600,000.