I’m glad you’re here! If you don’t know what the WAGATHON is, I will explain it. First, I want to share my experience with Guiding Eyes as a blind girl.

Guiding Eyes for the Blind changed my life for the better in July 2019. On July 1, 2019, I flew to New York, unaware of what awaited me. The following day, July 2, I participated in my Juno walk, which involved a trial walk with one or more guide dogs under the supervision of instructors. All the dogs responded to the name “Juno,” so none of us knew the actual names of the dogs, preventing the puppy raisers from getting their hopes up. While many classmates worked with several dogs, I only walked with one. When the instructors asked me how it felt to walk with that dog, I replied, “It was perfect.”

On July 3, around 8:30 AM, I finally learned my dog’s name. It was Bernard, but I couldn't decipher if it was pronounced "Benard" or "Bernard." Would his nickname be Benny or Bernie? Around 9:30 AM, there was a knock on my dorm door. In walked a yellow lab, and he was so cute! Once my trainer left, I broke down a bit because this was MY dog! I couldn’t believe I actually had a guide dog.

Over the next three weeks, Bernard and I learned to navigate together confidently while exploring White Plains, Downtown Manhattan, and Yorktown Heights. We grew as a team, although there was a moment when I wondered if it would work out with Bernard. He was so slow when it was hot, and at the time, I was a runner who enjoyed walking fast. However, the instructors insisted that he was the right dog for me, and I’m so glad they did. I found my best friend.

Bernard, also known as Mr. B or B Dog, and I have done so much together over the past six years. My camera roll is filled with photos of him, capturing both his cuteness and his quirks. I’ve never met a dog as friendly as Bernard, and he never fails to put a smile on my face. Together, we have started and graduated from college, have been on multiple independent trips, served as the executive chair and secretary of the student advisory board for UNC Charlotte Disability Services, and made many new friends. Whether we’re working or napping, Bernard is always right by my side.

I couldn’t be more grateful to Guiding Eyes and to Bernard's puppy raisers for blessing me with such a sweet dog. I feel incredibly lucky to have Bernard in my life, even when he wakes me up with his snoring!

Knowing the community came together to fundraise for not only Bernard's guide dog training, but many other guide dogs is something I think about often. Bernard changed my life. He boosted my confidence and helped me become more independent. He is everything I could've asked for. I want to do the same for another individual with vision loss. I want them to experience what it feels like to walk on clouds... well, with a guide dog, to feel more confident and independent. Everyone deserves to experience all life has to offer. Guide dogs do just that, which is why I am participating in the 2025 WAGATHON!

The WAGATHON is a cumulative marathon that you and your dog can do anywhere, at your own pace, throughout September. The goal is to hit 26.2 miles by September 30th – all while raising funds to support Guiding Eyes for the Blind’s mission to provide guide dogs to people with vision loss.

I’d love for you to be part of this life-changing cause with me and Bernard this September! If you can, please consider donating and sharing our page with your friends and family to help us spread the word. I’ll be sharing updates and fun photos along the way, so keep an eye out! Thank you so much for your support— it means the world to us!

- Kate and Bernard

Resources:

Guiding Eyes Home Page: https://www.guidingeyes.org
About Guiding Eyes: https://www.guidingeyes.org/who-we-are/
Your Impact: https://www.guidingeyes.org/your-impact/
Journey of A Guide Dog: https://www.guidingeyes.org/journey-of-a-guide-dog/
Ways to Give: https://www.guidingeyes.org/ways-to-give/
Get Involved And Volunteer: https://www.guidingeyes.org/volunteer/

July 2019 Graduate Slideshow: https://youtu.be/FzfYAHzc0KQ?si=1thl9tOdVxuwwPu2. Bernard and I's section begins at 3:47.