With the fourth annual CNIB Guide Dogs Pup Crawl just around the corner, we’re overjoyed to announce that Mary and John Crocker will be generously matching donations up to $50,000 for the third year in a row. That means every dollar raised will have twice the impact!
The CNIB Guide Dogs Pup Crawl is a five-kilometre fundraising event that will span six weeks this year. Beginning April 17th and running until May 31st, participants will walk, run, jog, cartwheel, or even hop if they feel like it – all to support guide dogs and their handlers across Canada.
Besides being enormous supporters of the Pup Crawl, Mary and John Crocker are long-time members of our community. Their steadfast dedication to helping people who are blind or partially sighted in Canada has helped advance our mission to change what it means to be blind across the country.
We were honoured to chat with our friend Mary Crocker about why she and John support CNIB – and why everyone should lace up their sneakers for Pup Crawl.
We’re thrilled that you and John are once again matching donations for CNIB Pup Crawl! Why do you personally think it’s so important to support CNIB Guide Dogs?
It is so important to support CNIB Guide Dogs because, as far as we know, CNIB is the only organization that provides guide dogs to individuals with sight loss regardless of their financial circumstances. This means that anyone who wants a guide dog can get one.
What makes us proud supporters of CNIB Guide Dogs is that we can see the results of our contributions. You see how these guide dogs are trained and how they can transform the life of a blind person. They bring joy and safety and provide independence so a person with sight loss can lead a normal life.
What would you say to anyone unsure about participating in Pup Crawl? Why should people participate?
We believe people should support Pup Crawl since the money raised will help provide guide dogs to people with sight loss – and unlike other charity events, anyone can participate! Participants only have to complete five kilometres of an activity of their choice – walking, yoga, stretching – over the course of the event. This means that anyone regardless of physical limitations can contribute to this important cause!
How has your life been impacted by your involvement in philanthropy work? Why did you choose CNIB?
Our involvement with CNIB has been a very meaningful experience. We were taught that those who have should give! We believe more people should consider philanthropic work. For CNIB Guide Dogs, it does not have to be a monetary contribution – you can also volunteer your time. For example, all the puppies are raised by volunteers under the guidance of the CNIB Guide Dog trainers.
In evaluating our charity contributions several years ago, we narrowed them down to charities that, unlike others, did not get massive contributions. For us, we considered how macular degeneration runs in my family and my diagnosis of an eye disease that’s left me blind in one eye – and the fact that CNIB needed donations. That all contributed to our support.
What has it been like to meet the five dogs you’ve so generously sponsored and to see their progression in the program?
It has been so rewarding meeting the dogs and seeing their progression. Queenie, Sparkie, Oscar, Brandy, and Amber have brought so much joy to our lives and we know they will bring freedom and independence to their handlers.
Thank you, Mary and John Crocker, for your generosity and support, and for being such dedicated friends of CNIB!
If you would like to support CNIB Guide Dogs by participating in the 2023 Pup Crawl, please register at cnib.ca/pupcrawl. Every dollar raised between April 17 and May 31st will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to $50,000 by Mary and John!