Dogs for Good didn’t just give me a dog — they gave me my independence, my laughter and my life back. This challenge is my way of giving something back.

They say every dog makes a difference, and Yan, a Collie x Lab who came into my life in 2013, certainly did that. After him came Kingsley. Although his life was heartbreakingly short, he helped me come off some very powerful medication and gave me a reason to fight through my pain. When he passed, life felt as though it shut down again.

Then Sheldon entered my home.

Now, not a day goes by without laughter — with him and often at him — as he’s such a cheeky clown. He has brought joy, purpose and light back into my life in ways I can never fully put into words.

So now we are taking on our next challenge. A team of 15 Army personnel, alongside me, Sheldon, Jill (my number one), Sybil our driver and Mike my mechanic, will be stepping off to cross the Trans Pennine Trail from Hornsea to Southport.

That’s 215 miles in 9 days — almost a marathon every single day.

I thought climbing the National 3 Peaks in a wheelchair would be enough to reach my £30,000 fundraising target, but when a General Election came along it sadly stalled those efforts. So here I am again, trying once more.

If you can spare even a pound or two, I would be deeply grateful — and so would the many people still waiting for a life-changing dog.

Dogs for Good don’t just provide companions. They give independence, confidence, purpose and hope — and they truly change lives.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for any support you’re able to give.

Dogs for Good believes in the power of dogs.

Since 1988, Dogs for Good has been making life-changing differences for people with disabilities. The charity supports people with complex needs including physical disabilities, autism, dementia and learning disabilities enabling them to lead more independent lives through the help of trained dogs.

They receive over 5,000 enquiries a year and it costs more than £22,000 to train and support each assistance dog. With your sponsorship, they can create more life-changing partnerships. Thank you.