The best charity begins locally, so when I stumbled across Hounds for Heroes in Sussex I thought this was the one for me. 

I'm going to attempt an 84 mile, 3 day run. I have done long runs before but never had to get up and go again the next morning, approx 28 miles each day off-road on the famous Ridgeway path.

We all know people in the armed forces or emergency services and mostly they are a pretty selfless bunch. It doesn't take much imagination to know that coming back from war or coping after being involved in a major emergency would be difficult, sometimes lonely and with an injury, life changing. 

We also know that dogs, even my daft family labrador are smart, loyal, instinctive and able to make a huge difference to an individual.

All this charity seeks to do is train up dogs so that they can be a companion, use an ATM, get the post, be a friend, help someone across a road, I think it is lovely, I know what my dog gives me and my family, I love the idea of being able to pass some of that love and support on.

Please donate, remember the people out there putting themselves on the line for you and imagine the joy and help a trained dog could bring.

I'm squeezing in training amongst long work hours and doing this because I believe it's well worth it.

Robert