Hi, thanks for taking the time to visit my Justgiving page.
I really hope that you can help me to raise as much money as I can for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.
On the 6 May I am starting a sponsored walk between Willen Hospice in Milton Keynes and the Hearing Dogs Centre (The Grange) in Saunderton, near Princes Risborough.
The walk is in memory of my husband Paul who died suddenly on the 23 October last year. Paul had been diagnosed with bowel and liver cancer on the 2 August and he found out on the 2 September that it was incurable. He decided to have chemotherapy to try and prolong his life as much as possible and his treatment started on the 5 October. Unfortunately his body could not withstand the severity of the drugs and he died suddenly in Stoke Mandeville Hospital on the 23 October.
Paul was always very positive and despite his condition he was always very determined to carry on as normal.
At a very early age Paul became deaf in one ear and he always wanted to help deaf people in some capacity. After his retirement from Santander in 2004 Paul devoted much of his time to working for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. He became a puppy socialiser, a driver and a secretary for the Milton Keynes fundraising branch.
When he became ill he set himself the target of raising money for the charity by completing a sponsored walk between Willen Hospice in Milton Keynes and the Hearing Dog Centre in Saunderton, a distance of some 30 miles. His intention was to carry out the walk once he had completed his chemotherapy in April. Unfortunately he never got the chance.
I know how keen Paul was to complete the walk. As you know, he could be very determined when he wanted to be. So as not to let him down and in his memory I propose walking the route with our friend Sue O’Connor. We will start out at Willen Hospice on the 6 May, which would have been Paul’s 62 birthday and continue to The Grange on Saturday the 7 May. We will be joined along the way by friends and family who will either walk some of the way with us or support us with refreshment breaks, transport etc.
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People is a national charity which aims to train dogs to alert deaf people to important sounds and danger signals in the home, workplace and public buildings and the wider community.
The cockapoo pictured with Paul in the photograph is Cleo. She was the last puppy that Paul socialised and she went into sound training just after he died. We have heard recently that Cleo has passed her Foundation Assessment and has been introduced to her recipient.
Paul would have been so proud to know that she has been successful but disappointed that he never saw her in the coveted burgundy coat, the characteristic symbol of a fully fledged hearing dog.
Paul believed passionately in Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and we hope that you will help us honour his memory by pledging your donation via this website. You will have the satisfaction of knowing that you have played a significant role in changing a person’s life by helping them to fully integrate into society.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
Many thanks and lots of love to you all.
Jackie
