Bake Bikkies to Support Kiwis Living with Sight Loss this Bikkie Day

At dish, we are baking-mad so we are thrilled to be able to put our skills toward a good cause and we are delighted to see that in Bikkie Day's 8th year, they've widened their scope to focus on all of the Blind Low Vision NZ (formerly Blind Foundation) services - not just guide dogs.

Guide dogs need to make potentially life or death decisions. It is a huge responsibility for a dog and it takes a lot of training ($50K worth!), so only the best of the best graduate as guide dogs and not all of the puppies make it through to become a fully-fledged guide dog. Last year's Bikkie Day raised over $112K to go toward the 100 or so puppies per year that are bred to be guide dogs. 

For 7 years now, the Blind Low Vision NZ has encouraged people to bake and sell puppy-shaped bikkies, on Friday 26th July, to raise funds and support for the guide dogs.

Now, in their 8th year, Chris Harris, Blind Low Vision NZ Community and Events Manager has some exciting news:
"This year Bikkie Day will support Kiwis living with sight loss. Guide Dogs is just one of the ways Blind Low Vision NZ empower people who are blind, deafblind or have low vision live the life they choose. We also offer a vast amount of services and tailor them to each person."

As lovely and happy as this dog is, the bikkies are for people to buy in support of the dogs, not for the dogs to eat.

The Blind Low Vision New Zealand Organisation has widened their scope to focus on all of the Blind Low Vision NZ services - they're no longer raising money for just guide dogs but for white cane training, support with adaptive technology and adaptive daily living skills, counselling, learning braille or employment.

Taking part in Bikkie Day is a simple, and rewarding way, that we can come together to help many vision impaired New Zealanders. Whether your speciality is baking, selling, or eating moreish bikkies, get behind Blind Low Vision NZ and show your support for these clever pups and all the other life-changing services offered by the Blind Low Vision NZ. 

So, get your bikkie cutters ready and start baking your favourite bikkies! Bikkie Day registration packs include a puppy-shaped bikkie cutter, brochure with recipe/case study/tips/info etc, posters, sprinkles, stickers, collection box, and more, plus funds will go towards empowering people who are blind or have low vision to live the life they choose - not a bad use of an afternoon baking!

To register for Bikkie Day, or for more information, click here.