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Hundreds turn out for dying guide dog’s final walk along Blackpool seafront

We're not crying, you are... who are we kidding? Of course we're crying.

Emily Sergeant - 13th February 2025

Hundreds of people and their pets gathered on the Blackpool seafront for a terminally-ill guide dog’s final walk.

‘Ginger prince’ Labrador retriever Ian had been working hard guiding his owner, Mark, through the world and providing him with the independence needed to take on each day, and was not long off his retirement and getting to spend the rest of his days in a loving home.

One Ian got to around 10, he was set to hang up his harness and go on to live with his former Puppy Raiser, Gemma Fairhurst, along with her family and her other guide dog pups in training, so that Mark would still get to keep in touch with Ian and Ian would get to pass on his wisdom and teach the youngsters how it’s done.

But sadly, this plan won’t become a reality, as Ian was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Vets told Mark and his wife Kerry around Christmas 2024 that Ian would sadly only have four-eight weeks to live.

Once Ian’s owners got in touch with Gemma to tell her the devastating news, she knew she had to do something to honour and celebrate him – and ultimately, raise funds for Guide Dogs to name another puppy Ian once he’d passed.

So, Gemma and Mark planned one last special walk for Ian along the Blackpool Promenade – the place he called home.

“He’s led such a wonderful life and brought happiness to Mark and Kerry, but also to everyone that he’s met,” Gemma explained in her fundraiser.

“For me, he’s changed my life, and in many ways, he’s saved my life. He gave me the strength to carry on and he’s given Mark love and support that cannot be measured… so I’d like to raise the money it takes to name another guide dog, and the most perfect name I can think of is Ian.

“The cost to sponsor and name a guide dog is £5,000, so that’s what I’m trying to raise.”

The ‘big old doggy walk’ took place this past Sunday (9 February) from 2pm, and was open for any and everyone who would like to come along… and come along they did, as more than 200 people and 80 dogs arrived to walk along the seafront.

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The walkers all contributed towards the ‘5,000 steps for £5,000’ target, with Ian leading the way at the front and being pushed along in a special troller by Mark and Gemma.

For the last leg of the journey, Ian even got out of his stroller and walked along the Promenade himself, with the walkers creating a guard of honour for him.

Ian’s story touched the heart of so many people across the North West, that Gemma absolutely smashed her target of £5,000, and at the time of writing, has raised more than £7,230 to name another guide dog puppy Ian.

Read more:

• Golden retriever who’s the dad to more than 300 guide dog puppies retires
• Guide Dogs is looking for people in Greater Manchester to ‘foster’ dogs while they’re in training
• Retired Oldham couple who’ve fostered 41 dogs for charity urge others to do the same

Gemma said she’d been ‘overwhelmed’ by the support she’s received, and that people from all over the region turned up – including other guide dog puppies she raised in the past.

You can donate to the fundraiser here.

Featured Image – Sarah Summerton (via Guide Dogs)