Story
Mary Bolland from Larkhall will reach the incredible age of
100 on 22 December, and to celebrate this momentous birthday we have set up
this page where all donations will go directly to the Guide Dogs charity.
Mary, who has been totally blind since the age of 9 has had
Guide Dogs since 1962 who have enabled her to have an incredibly active and independent life.
She travelled from Larkhall to Bolton to train with her
first Guide Dog in 1962 FLASH, as there were no facilities then in Scotland.
Mary then trained with her other Guide Dogs in Scotland in
both the Forfar and Larkhall Centres, namely:
ENID
ANNABEL
WANDA
HANNAH
VIDA
Most people from Larkhall and the surrounding communities
will fondly remember this very friendly lady out and about with her dogs over
the years, Mary loved nothing more than a good catch up when out and about and
thoroughly enjoyed her weekly visits to William McKenzies salon.
Her Guide Dogs meant so much to Mary and likewise every
penny donated to the charity will equally mean a lot to her.
Our aim is to raise £5k, this would allow us to sponsor and
dedicate a Guide Dog to Mary, naming it in her honour.
Mary is now enjoying life in a care home in East Kilbride,
having enjoyed so many years with her Guide Dogs and will be amazed and very
humbled with any donations that can kindly be given to celebrate this iconic
birthday.
As well as Mary receiving a telegram from Her Majesty The
Queen, she could also have a Guide Dog pup named in her honour, a pup that will
go on to give a blind person the fabulous life that Mary has enjoyed!
We would like to thank everyone for any donations that you
can kindly offer to celebrate the magnificent 100 years of Mary Bolland, a
Larkhall Legend