THE MEMORY of a much-loved pet has raised thousands of money this year for a vital charity.

Lucy was the beloved dog of Keith Sykes, a keen angler from Cirencester who used to regularly take Lucy fishing at Cotswold Water Park.

Sadly, Lucy died suddenly in 2011, at the age of just seven, and Keith and his friends decided to hold a fishing competition in Lucy's memory - and it has now managed to raise over £50,000.

Keith said: “I’ve never had a dog like her."

“Everyone who knew her was really upset when she died and we wanted to do something to remember her.”

The money from the competition, which was named Lucy’s Bowl, was fittingly donated to the Guide Dogs charity, as it was actually a volunteer from Guide Dogs who helped Keith rehome Lucy as a puppy.

The Lucy's Bowl event has now proved so popular, that Keith and a team of volunteers have been running it annually ever since and it now attracts fishers from all over the UK.

Keith said: “We’ve gone from raising £1,300 at the first competition to raising tens of thousands every year."

“So far we have raised enough to name eight guide dog puppies Lucy, via the charity’s name a puppy scheme, and hope to name several more by the end of this year.”

Sponsors are entitled to a visit with their named pup, so the latest guide-dog-puppy-Lucy usually attends the event.

This year’s event was held last month at RK Leisure’s Wraysbury complex near Staines, where 65 anglers attended the competition, a competition that's now invitation-only due to its popularity.

Said Keith: “It’s incredible that this legacy was created by a dog, the end result being life-changing to many individuals.”

“She really was a dog-in-a-million and I never thought this would happen”

“Out of Lucy’s death, her legacy lives on.”

For more information, you can contact Guide Dogs Birmingham Mobility Team on 0345 143 0194 or email birmingham@guidedogs.org.uk