Story
We are Laura and Jane. We work together as a professional lipspeaker and coach/facilitator. We have some experience and understanding of sensory loss and have worked with a deafblind client who fundraises for Guide Dogs, Salford. We want to support him and the many people whose lives could be transformed by a Guide Dog.
What impact do guide dogs have?
Here is what our friend, Elaine Barrett, an Paralympic medallist, says about the impact of having guide dogs in her life:
Guide dogs have given me more independence, to get around much safely and quickly than using a cane. With a cane we find all the obstacles, where as with a guide dog they take you round and away from those obstacles. Not having to rely on other people in some ways too being able to go further afield, like other places round the country that I wouldn’t be able to do using a cane.’
We asked her about the relationship with her guide dog and she said:
‘We put all our trust in them - and that is a big thing to put your full trust in what your dog does for you.’
Laura
Having been immersed in the Deaf and DeafBlind community for almost 20 years. So, when I was asked by Jane, would I like to take part in running Bury 10k and fundraising for Guidedogs for the blind, it was without hesitation I said yes. I have had the pleasure in witnessing these wonderful dogs work, giving their owners their independence, companionship and basically being their lifeline. Being a dog owner myself, it’s no secret I love dogs. I also love all things health and fitness, so combining the two makes no better combination. However, running for me is a challenge. So, without further ado, trainers are on and it’s time to get some kilometres in these legs. So I can be race-day ready and raise as much as we can for such a wonderful life-saving charity and the most amazing dogs.
Jane
I became profoundly deaf as a young adult so have that experience of losing one of your senses. I lead a local social enterprise, Result CIC and work as a coach with people with different disabilities. I have had the privilege of working with blind and deafblind people including Eric Griffiths, Guide Dogs for the Blind Salford’s fundraiser. I have an autoimmune condition which I only discovered after experiencing a lung clot 20 years ago. At the time I could barely walk and was breathless all the time. I steadily built up my physical resilience and though my ‘running’ is more like jogging, I am proud, aged 59, to be able to run 5 or 10 kilometres and want to put this to good use for Guide Dogs. Independence is precious and this is what Guide Dogs give their owners. I hope you can help us support them.
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.