Helo! Fy enw i yw Lowri Howells ac mae fy nhad yn dioddef o
glefyd Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) sef dirywiad yng nghelloedd y retina. Gyda’i olwg yn dirywio, nid oedd llygaid Dad yn gallu addasu i newid mewn goleuni ac fe fyddai felly’n aml yn baglu dros bethau i ddechrau. Fodd bynnag, yn y blynyddoedd diwethaf, mae ei olwg wedi dirywio’n sylweddol ac erbyn hyn, mae wedi ei golli bron yn gyfan gwbl.

Er mwyn gallu byw ei fywyd mor annibynnol â phosibl, mae effaith y cŵn tywys ar fywyd Dad wedi bod yn eithriadol. Maent wedi ei alluogi i deithio ar hyd a lled y wlad yn ddiogel. Yn 1999, cafodd Dad ei gi tywys
cyntaf; ladi fach o’r enw Whisp. Ychydig oeddwn wedi sylweddoli ar y pryd, cymaint y byddai’r aelod newydd yma o’r teulu yn newid bywyd Dad! Ar ôl blynyddoedd diflino o waith, daeth hi’n bryd i Whisp ymddeol, a chafodd Dad ei ail gi tywys; cawr addfwyn o’r enw Taylor. Mae gen i atgofion melys o’r amser a dreuliais gyda Dad a Taylor ar draeth Aberystwyth pan fyddent yn dod ar y bws o Gaerfyrddin i ymweld â mi yn y brifysgol. Erbyn hyn, Cracker yw ffrind gorau newydd Dad ac mae wrth ei fodd yn tywys Dad ar hyd y lle. Mae ganddo gyfarthiad calonnog sy’n fy nghroesawu gartref bod tro!

I ddiolch felly am y cŵn arbennig yma sydd wedi trawsnewid bywyd Dad, rwyf wedi penderfynu rhedeg hanner marathon Caerdydd ym mis Hydref
eleni er mwyn codi arian tuag at Gŵn Tywys Cymru. Fy ngobaith yw y bydd yr arian yn helpu i newid bywydau pobl eraill sydd â nam golwg yn yr un ffordd ag y mae Whisp, Taylor a Cracker wedi helpu Dad.

Diolch am bob cyfraniad. 

Hello! My name is Lowri Howells and my father suffers from a disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) which is the breakdown and loss of
cells in the retina. With his deteriorating vision, Dad had difficulty getting
around in the dark and it took time for his eyes to adjust to lighting, often tripping over things at first. In more recent years, Dad has suffered a significant loss of vision and has by now lost most of it.

In order to live his life as independently as possible, guide dogs have had an extraordinary impact on Dad’s life. They have enabled him to travel all over the country safely. In 1999, Dad had his first guide dog; a lovely lady called Whisp. Little did I realise at the time, how big an impact this new member of the family would have on Dad’s life! After many years of tireless work, it was time for Whisp to retire and Dad was given his second guide dog; a gentle giant called Taylor. I have fond memories of the time I spent with Dad and Taylor on the beach in Aberystwyth when they would travel on the bus from Carmarthen to visit me in university. By now, Dad’s new four-legged companion is Cracker and he’s in his element guiding Dad about the place. He has a hearty bark which welcomes me home every time!

As a thank you to these special dogs who have transformed Dad’s life, I have decided to run the Cardiff half marathon in October this year, raising money for Guide Dogs Wales. I hope that the money raised will
help change the lives of other people who suffer from sight loss in the same way that Whisp, Taylor and Cracker have helped Dad.

Thank you for all contributions.