![\"Walk_07CEIDIOG\"](\"http:\/\/ceidiog.com\/pr\/files\/2014\/05\/Walk_07CEIDIOG.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nAnkerside Shopping Centre Manager Pete Barber said: \u201cLaura and her team, like many of the staff here at Ankerside, are very committed to helping their customers.\u00a0 Giving up their own time to help raise funds for this admirable charity is one example of how they give a little bit extra.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know that our regular shoppers are very generous and I\u2019d ask them to take a moment to sponsor the walk by Laura\u2019s team, and so help make a difference for somebody with hearing problems.\u201d<\/p>\n
Laura added: \u201cThe sponsored walk that myself and a few colleagues are taking part in at Kingsbury Water Park is part of our on-going support for Hearing Dogs for the Deaf.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a four-mile course around the lakes which should be a very pleasant way to spend a Saturday morning and we\u2019re all looking forward to it very much.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re being sponsored by our colleagues and also by our customers who are always very willing to back this charity because of the excellent work it does.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur last event, which was very well supported by our customers, was last month when we held a hearing awareness day and collection at the store for Hearing Dogs for the Deaf.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur special guests for the day were Jan Winters and her hearing dog Berrie, which has transformed her life since she got him three years ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cJan and Berrie, who is a specially trained five-year-old Golden Labrador Retriever cross, regularly give talks in local schools on what an important role hearing dogs can play in the life of a deaf person.<\/p>\n
\u201cJan used to shy away from going to big shopping areas because she didn\u2019t know what was going on around her but Berrie gives her signals to guide her as she walks and I know she feels very confident and secure at Ankerside.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the awareness day we offered free hearing checks and promoted the message that people should look after their ears. While many people have regular sight tests they tend to forget about their hearing a little bit.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also sold cakes which the staff had made and sold them outside the store. This made \u00a3134 for Hearing Dogs for the Deaf.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have recently expanded the audiology side of things at Specsavers in Ankerside.\u00a0 I am now there three days a week \u2013 Monday, Wednesday and Thursday \u2013 to do hearing tests on an NHS and private basis and our hearing care assistant Pamela Gordon is at the store every day apart from Sunday to offer help and guidance\u201d<\/p>\n
Vicky Ryan, Midlands community fundraiser for Hearing Dogs for the Deaf, said: \u201cI\u2019m very grateful to the people from Specsavers at Ankerside for agreeing to take part in our sponsored walk.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe kind of support we receive from Specsavers is invaluable to the work we do.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the first time we have organised this particular event and we\u2019re expecting around 50 people to take part.<\/p>\n
\u201cStarting at 10am, it\u2019s a gentle walk around the water park of about four miles and we\u2019re keeping our fingers crossed that the weather will be kind to us.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, we\u2019ll be going ahead with the walk even if it rains \u2013 we\u2019d just ask people to bring along their waterproofs!<\/p>\n
\u201cI know a few people are planning to bring along their dogs on the day but although the event is in aid of hearing dogs, a dog isn\u2019t essential to take part in the walk.\u201d<\/p>\n
For more details about the sponsored walk go to: www.hearingdogs.org.uk\/walks<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ankerside Shopping Centre, open daily,\u00a0 is home to 60 stores, from fashion, health and beauty to services and food and drink, and has more than 700 parking spaces. More details at www.ankerside.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n