Helen and George: A Mother and Son’s Journey with Guide Dogs

Our volunteering journey with Guide Dogs began in 2014 when we started as puppy raisers. Since then, we have raised 11 guide dog puppies, and we are currently on our 12th. In 2021, we also became breeding dog holders after one of the puppies we raised went on to contribute to the next generation. Over the years, we have also fostered dogs for both short- and long-term placements.

One of the primary reasons we are so passionate about supporting Guide Dogs is due to George’s vision challenges. When he was just 9 weeks old, George was diagnosed with colobomas in both eyes, with his left eye being the more severely affected. While he has been fortunate that the condition hasn't damaged his retina, his left eye’s vision remains significantly compromised. Although glasses and contact lenses help to correct his vision, it continues to deteriorate, at this point, we don’t know whether George will eventually lose his sight entirely. Knowing that our support for Guide Dogs helps others with similar visual impairments means a great deal to us—and, of course, we have a deep love for dogs.

So, why do we want to run the 2026 London Marathon for Guide Dogs? It’s not only because of George’s condition, but because we want to take on a personal challenge that will raise awareness for the charity and generate much-needed funds, our initial target being £4000. This will help ensure that more life-changing guide dogs are trained to support people with sight loss. We’ve already committed to this journey: while George, being much fitter and younger than his mother, has been running regularly, participating in Park Runs, and playing hockey and cricket weekly, Helen has been walking 8-10 miles a day. She admits she's not a runner by nature, but she is fully dedicated to this cause. In January 2025, she completed the Couch to 5K challenge despite having a pacemaker and asthma. She’s now running three times a week and completed the Derby 10K in April 2025. Their next challenge was a half marathon, which they completed for MoRunning on 22nd November 2025. All of this is in preparation for the ultimate challenge: the London Marathon in 2026!

Another powerful reason behind our decision to take part in this iconic event is to remind ourselves that, no matter how tough life can get, we each face unique struggles that are equally significant. For us, this is a way to add a new layer of support to our ongoing commitment to Guide Dogs. We know this marathon will be a real challenge, but we’re inspired by the incredible cause that motivates us to push through.

About Guide Dogs

Almost two million people in the UK are living with sight loss that has a significant impact on their daily lives. Of those, around 180,000 rarely leave their homes alone and lead lonely, isolated lives.

Guide Dogs works for a world where people with sight loss are never left out of life, for a world where being blind or partially sighted is not what defines you. A world with enough support to make the challenges of sight loss no barrier to fulfilling hopes and dreams.

Every day, an additional 250 people join the 2 million individuals already living with sight loss. This number is projected to double by 2050, making the work of Guide Dogs more crucial than ever. Guide Dogs provides a variety of services, both with and without dogs, helping thousands of people live active, independent, and fulfilling lives despite sight loss. Some examples of their impact include:

• Guide Dogs established 387 new guide dog partnerships and supported a total of 4,065 partnerships.

• Guide Dogs assisted children with vision impairments in developing vital life skills 4,235 times, enabling them to navigate the world confidently and safely.

(Source: www.guidedogs.org.uk, based on 2022 figures)

Each Guide Dog costs approximately £50,000 over its lifetime, but Guide Dogs offer so much more to support those with visual impairments. Here are a few examples of how your sponsorship could make a life-changing difference for someone with sight loss:

£6 could support a guide dog partnership for a day.

£8 could buy a collar for a working guide dog.

£15 could buy a leather lead for a guide dog.

£16 could buy a ‘puppy in training’ jacket for a puppy starting their journey to become a guide dog.

£18 could buy a grooming kit for a new buddy dog partnership.

£25 could pay for a child to attend a Guide Dog Experience Day, where they can learn all about our guide dogs.

£26 could buy a white harness, the iconic symbol of a working guide dog

£31 could buy a Balance Board to help a child develop essential gross motor skills, such as coordination, balance and strength.

£50 could cover the cost of a guide dog’s visit to the vet.

£51 enables us to produce a tailor-made, large print book for a child with sight loss, so they can enjoy reading just like their friends.

£69 could buy a puppy raising kit for the volunteers who look after our puppies during their first year.

£125 could buy a starter kit for a new guide dog owner, containing everything they need to start life with their new dog.

£126 could pay for an Education Review for a child to get the specialist support and equipment they need at school.

£138 could buy a starter kit for a guide dog partnership, containing everything they need to start their new life together.

£296 could buy a Fine Motor Skills Bundle, providing a package of toys carefully selected by our experts.

£451 could provide the parents of a child with a vision impairment with ten sessions of support.

£865 could buy a birthing kit, containing all the essential equipment for a guide dog mum to safely deliver her puppies.

£1,240 could buy a young person a laptop kit, complete with assistive technology such as Supernova magnifier and speech.

(Source: www.guidedogs.org.uk)

Whether big or small, your contribution means the world to us. Every penny you donate helps support our challenge to run the Derby 10K, a half marathon, and ultimately the London Marathon in 2026. Your generosity will aid Guide Dogs in their mission to empower visually impaired children, adults, and their families to live more independently. Through training exceptional people and incredible dogs, developing new services and facilities, and advocating for a more accessible, inclusive society, Guide Dogs is making a real difference.

Thank you for supporting us and Guide Dogs—we truly appreciate your kindness.

Helen and George