Red Deer Victim Services are saying thank you to the grads of Notre Dame High School, after the students raised $40,000 to help pay for a new service dog.

Part of their grad service project, the students held numerous fundraisers throughout the year including scavenger hunts and food stands.

Red Deer Victims Services Program Manager Constable Holly Erb said it wouldn’t be possible without the help of the grads.

“It is something we’ve wanted to do for several years we just haven’t had the funds because we’re non-profit and funded by grants through the provincial government. It’s not something we have access to for funding.”

With over 3,000 files in the Red Deer Services Victim Unit, she added having a dog in this area will be much more convenient.

“Any client that needs that assistance would have access to our dog here versus having the dog from Olds or Camrose or Calgary come up. We’re always having conflicting schedules with the other dogs so our clients now are not always having access to dogs where they would be if we had our own dog.”

Erb describes the act from the students as simply amazing.

“I don’t know if I can really articulate how amazed I am at these students. They chose us out of so many different charities that are in our community and have put so much of their time and effort to take that time and to imagine what that service dog could provide to those clients.”

Red Deed Deer Victim Services won’t have a new service dog for a few months and will continue to borrow from different locations.

Some of the money raised will help pay for costs such as travel, insurance and food.

Each year Grade 12 students at Notre Dame High School choose a charity to support, last year they raised $35,000 for Parkland School.