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Officially opened by the Mayor of Wimborne and supported by Wimborne BID, the event raised an impressive £1879 in support of Guide Dogs, whose life-changing services empower people living with sight loss.
The town-wide hunt saw families scouring shop windows for hidden toy guide dog puppies, armed with clue sheets. The fun continued at Wimborne Square with a bustling tombola, raffle and the chance to meet real guide dogs and puppies in training, learning vital skills for their future roles.
The Treasure Hunt Prize Giving took place on Saturday 1st November at Café on the Square, where lucky winners were celebrated: First prize of £75 worth of Hall & Woodhouse vouchers went to Valentyna Tipaieva, Debs Rowland scooped second prize of £50 Amazon vouchers and third prize went to Tony Brown who won Wimborne Town Football Tickets & Tivoli Cinema Vouchers. Runners-up were Rachel Colley who received a £10 Stewarts Voucher and the Ukrainian Refugees group with Purbeck Connect Ukraine who won a £10 Stewarts Voucher. Lucky top raffle winner was Matthew Warren who won a one-night stay for two at Bridge House, Ferndown
A special moment came courtesy of Hyacinth House Care Home in Ferndown, whose residents Gwen Raggett, aged 99 and Didi Thornton, 88, proudly presented a beautifully curated hamper for the tombola.
Guide Dogs is supported by over 17,500 volunteers, who collectively contributed more than 12 million volunteer hours to Guide Dogs in 2024. That’s more than 1.5 million working days last year! Events like Wimborne’s Treasure Trail help fund essential items such as enrichment toys and training equipment for puppies learning to become life-changing companions.
Local schools also joined the cause, welcoming Guide Dogs volunteers for educational presentations to help children understand sight loss and the incredible work these dogs do.
Elli Cavazza, Guide Dogs Puppy Development Advisor, shared: “We are so grateful to Wimborne BID and Wimborne businesses for their support—from hosting the treasure hunt to donating brilliant prizes. The funds raised help make a difference to people living with sight loss”
Sam Devlin, Wimborne BID deputy chair and owner of Vetsmiths, added: “Over twenty businesses took part in the trail, and many more donated prizes. It was a wonderful day of canine charm and community spirit.”
She added: “Wimborne continues to shine as a guide dog-friendly town, welcoming puppy trainers and their pups as they learn to navigate real-world environments.”
To learn more about Guide Dogs and how you can help, visit www.guidedogs.org.uk/how-you-can-help.
