A MESSAGE by Home Secretary David Blunkett MP was sent to Okehampton last week, as a blind woman set out from the town to continue on her charity walk to raise money to sponsor a guide dog.

Tilly Trotter, is walking a 160-mile route along the Tarka Trail footpath with her guide dog Dalby.

She was given a warm send-off from Okehampton last Friday, by the Duchess of Devon, deputy mayor Cllr Tony Leach, Hatherleigh town crier Ros Chard, Ian Booker of the Dartmoor National Park Authority and a number of dog owners from the town.

The message of support from Mr Blunkett was read out before Tilly left for her day?s walk.

In the message, Mr Blunkett said he knew from first-hand experience the fantastic work guide dogs do to help blind people lead independent lives.

Mr Blunkett added he would have liked to have been able to join Tilly on part of the walk, but was unable to do so because of work commitments.

Cllr Leach said the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association did a ?wonderful job?, and he felt their work should be supported with Government-funding nationally rather then being wholly reliant on charity.

Tilly, 69, from Tiverton, set off from Barnstaple on Sunday, August 17, and will cover a figure of eight trail before returning back to Barnstaple next week. Tilly, her two sighted guides and Dalby also stopped at Hatherleigh and North Tawton along the way.

Tilly has appealed to walkers to pick up a sponsorship form and join her for one or more of the remaining days of the walk. More information and sponsorship forms are available from Jenny Letten or Marie Densham on 01392 219778