- Britain’s longest-running comic strip features seeing-eye dogs for the first time
- As part of a new comic, the characters meet a guide dog owner at Bash St School
He has been Beano’s faithful sidekick for decades.
But Gnasher is no longer the only dog in town as Britain’s longest-running comic strip will feature guide dogs for the first time.
As part of a new comic strip, Beano’s beloved characters meet a guide dog owner who visits them at Bash Street School.
The visit prompts Erbert, who already wears glasses, to admit to his friends that his eyesight is deteriorating and that he has been diagnosed with vision loss.
The group then visits a guide dog center where they meet another young boy with sight loss who has a ‘buddy dog’ to help him with daily tasks.
He has been Beano’s faithful sidekick for decades. But Gnasher is no longer the only dog in town as Britain’s longest-running comic strip will feature seeing-eye dogs for the first time
As part of a new comic strip, Beano’s beloved characters meet a guide dog owner who visits them at Bash Street School
These two characters are based on seven-year-old Alex McQueen, from the West Midlands, and his pal Chance, who were ‘Beanofied’ for the special edition.
Alex’s mum Lindsey said: ‘Alex and Chance being turned into cartoon characters in Beano is extremely exciting for him and the whole family.
“Not just because he’ll be in the comic, but because he’s excited to introduce Chance to the world.
‘Guide Dogs has supported Alex since he was four years old and changed his life when Chance came home in 2022.
‘They have a special bond that has helped both practically with Alex’s visual impairment, but also with his self-confidence and given him a best friend.’
Every year, more than 1,400 families are told that their child is losing sight, and the partnership aims to raise awareness of the impact this can have on young people.
The group visits a guide dog center where they meet another young boy with vision loss who has a ‘buddy dog’ to help him with daily tasks
These two characters are based on seven-year-old Alex McQueen, from the West Midlands, and his pal Chance, who were ‘Beanofied’ for the special edition
Since 2012, Guide Dogs has run the ‘buddy dog’ service, which pairs children who are blind or partially sighted with dogs to help them develop their confidence and make friends.
For the first time, the Beano comic strip will also be available on audio, specially tailored to people with a visual impairment.
Craig Graham, editor-in-chief of Beano Studios, said: ‘At Beano it’s important to us to reflect children’s experiences and help them navigate life with the fun and mischief that all children should enjoy.
‘BEANO Presents – A Buddy for Life’ has given us the opportunity to talk in depth about vision loss, which has been a special project for me as a visually impaired person.
“We hope this special guide dog comic strip will bring joy to children, while also helping them understand vision loss, how to be there for their friends and highlighting the services that guide dogs provide to children and young people.”
Alex Pepper, head of accessibility at Guide Dogs, said: ‘Our partnership with Beano will help children learn more about visual impairments and the different services Guide Dogs offers, in a fun yet educational way.
“As Erbert openly talks about his visual impairment to the Bash Street Kids for the very first time, we hope to encourage people to feel more comfortable sharing their experiences with vision loss.”