This is Sadie. She was given to me by the Guide Dogs charity and helps me walk at breakneck speed through London despite being registered blind. Thanks to Sadie, I really haven't had to slow down much since I lost much of my sight. I want to give something back to the charity that has helped me adjust and find happiness and confidence in my new identity. The best thing about losing your sight is the new furball by your side. There's nothing quite like an animal that becomes part of your stride through life, so much so that leaving her at home, feels like losing a limb. It's an honour and privilege to work with and to love a guide dog. It's really something. So, I want to give something back so another deafblind person can benefit. 

I am going to swim 22 miles - the equivalent of the English Channel. I will be dragging myself through 1408 lengths of Purley pool. Yes, it has awful changing rooms and it is cold! I have done two miles so far, and will be swimming a mile a day for 20 consecutive days over the next three weeks. Yep, no day off allowed! I am organising this as my own challenge and hope to raise some money for Guide Dogs.

This is in memory of four wonderful women. My step-Aunt, Ruth Liddington became a massive supporter of Guide Dogs, since my sister, Rebecca and I became Guide Dogs owners. Ruth sponsored her own guide dog puppies (one of them was called Truffles) and she proudly stuck their training 'pupdates' on her fridge door. Sadly, Ruth died just before Christmas aged 66. 

I will also be swimming in memory of three of my Deaf friends. All three died in their early 40s leaving behind young families. My friend Tamsin Wengraf-Townsend worried about losing her sight to Usher Syndrome and had always wanted a guide dog in future. Sadly, she did not live long enough to get one. My dear university friend, Anna Bennett, asked me all about my plans to get a guide dog, as she lay dying, taking great interest in my new cane and mobility training even though she was so very poorly. Finally, Alison Gibson, who would have been the first to bake a cake or to be up for a sporting challenge! Cancer took all four of these lovely people far too early. 

I would like to name a puppy 'Tamsin' in honour of the guide dog that Tamsin never lived to enjoy, hopefully, another deafblind person will benefit instead. To name a puppy, we need to raise, £1500. A fairly tall order but if you can help me get a little way towards it, that would be brilliant.  

My energetic husband, Andy is going to cycle 100 miles for Guide Dogs as well. Together, we have set up Team Positive Paws. If you want to do your own challenge please do join our team so that we can name a Guide Dog puppy to change a deafblind person's life. You can read more here, about our Team's story, how we want to help Deaf people who are losing their sight glide into living with deafblindness. https://www.justgiving.com/teams/positivepaws