Step Up For Guide Dogs This Winter: Join The PAWGUST Challenge

This August, Kiwis are lacing up their walking shoes and joining PAWGUST, a nationwide challenge supporting the guide dogs who help New Zealanders live life without limits.

Whether you’re walking solo or side-by-side with your dog, PAWGUST invites you to step outside every day in August and help raise vital funds for Blind Low Vision NZ Guide Dogs. Participants commit to walking or running a set distance while gathering sponsorship from friends, whānau and local supporters.

All funds raised support the breeding, raising, and training of guide dogs. Guide Dogs give people who are blind or have low vision greater freedom and independence.

When Michele Jackson from Devonport and her guide dog Sasha signed up for their first PAWGUST last year, Michele saw it as a great opportunity to get fit while supporting an incredible cause.

“I’d love to say I joined purely to raise money, and it’s definitely an incredible cause, but I also saw it as a great way to get fit,” says Michele.

Michele was born with cataracts, which caused the majority of her vision impairment early in life. At age 13, glaucoma set in and took the remaining sight in her right eye, leaving her with a small amount of tunnel vision in her left.

“Having sponsors kept me motivated,” says Michele. “Every time I thought about skipping a walk, I remembered the people who had donated, and it got me moving.”

With guide dog Sasha by her side, Michele not only reached her 60km target but exceeded it, clocking over 86km by the end of the month.

She and her friend also helped rally the community, hosting group walks on Takapuna Beach and turning an initial $2,000 fundraising goal into a last-minute sprint to raise $10,000.

Now, Michele is back for another PAWGUST, encouraging others to get involved. She adds, “Start small. Set an achievable goal and grow it. And don’t be afraid to ask people individually for support. That’s what worked best for me.”

Why PAWGUST Matters

Unlike pet dogs, guide dogs work year-round navigating busy footpaths, e-scooters, road signs, and urban hazards to keep their blind or low vision handlers safe.

By taking part in PAWGUST, you’re not just embracing daily movement, you’re supporting a future where every New Zealander who needs a guide dog can have one.

“Every step taken in PAWGUST helps raise the funds we need to train more dogs like Sasha,” says Andrea Midgen, Chief Executive, Blind Low Vision NZ. “These dogs give our clients freedom, confidence, and companionship.”

It’s free to join PAWGUST, and you don’t need a dog to take part. By gathering sponsors and getting moving, anyone can contribute to the $175,000 it takes to breed, train, and support a working guide dog throughout its career.

Unleash Your PAWtential and help create brighter futures with Blind Low Vision NZ.

Sign up at pawgust.co.nz.

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