My Activity Tracking
56
mi
My target 70 mi
I'm raising money for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
This October, I'm taking part in The Great British Dog Walk. Every mile I walk, and every pound I raise, will help Hearing Dogs for Deaf People provide practical support services for those with hearing loss and train more life-changing hearing dogs for people that need them.
I’m partially deaf and I will be walking with Henry my absolutely fabulous Sound Support Dog provided by Hearing Dogs Fir Deaf People. Henry has made such a huge difference to my life since he arrived two years ago and there isn’t a day that goes by that I’m not wholly grateful for his support and theirs! I know firsthand the difference what they do makes.
Hearing dogs are highly trained to alert deaf people to important and life-saving sounds, such as the smoke alarm, alarm clocks and even intruder alarms and baby monitors. They also provide lots of love, companionship and emotional support, which is really important as many deaf people can feel lonely and isolated.
The average lifetime cost of a hearing dog is £70,000. This includes breeding, training, applicant support, placement and ongoing partnership support, through to retirement and succession planning. Any donation, however large or small, will really help.
Thank you.
My Achievements
Updated Profile Pic
First miles logged
Half way there!
Miles complete!
Shared Page
Has Fundraising Page
Increased Fundraising Target
Thanked Donor
Received Five Donations
Reached 50% of fundraising target
Reached Fundraising Target
My Updates
Walks with Henry - Crimson Clover
Tuesday 13th Oct
Today's flower! I just LOVE how vibrant, pretty and bold this is? This is Crimson Clover and I think it's just absolutely beautiful. It's also brilliant because its a great nitrogen fixer, weed suppressant, it grows fast and it can really improve the quality of the soil. What's not to love?
Oooh the elephants we didn't see on the horizon!
Sunday 11th Oct
It's funny how sometimes we see the elephants on the horizon and sometimes we totally miss them.
When I saw the big walk for Hearing Dogs come up again, I pondered a little while before signing up, I'm not sure why, but something in the back of mind was already wondering. Instead of upping the 70 miles to at least 100 miles, I left it where it was. Somewhere deep down I think I already knew there were hurdles ahead.
Having had leg and ankle pain for sometime now, I was, as always, blaming me, I was sitting wrong, sleeping wrong, that's why my ankles were stiff and painful.... Except that wasn't the case. It's ruddy arthritis and it hurts like hell. The wrong shoes that had worn out were making it worse by miles.
So yesterday we went off to get new shoes so that I could hopefully continue instead of pulling out.
The good news is, I've actually had some sleep and the new shoes feel like I'm walking on air. Will take a few days to do any distance as it's still very painful but we're not done yet and we're going for this big time!
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10th October, the wild flower field
Saturday 10th Oct
This evening we had a lovely walk down to the wild flower field. It's beautiful, full of diversity and given nothing has grown there in years, the last two years it's been a feast for the eyes. The sunflowers are just amazing and can't help but put a smile on your face. Henry of course was grazing as ever. Country life suits him down to the ground, he's died and gone to heaven, thinks every walk in late summer and autumn is just a picnic!
I used to worry about him eating stuff, especially sticks... but actually the only way to stop him would be to give him a treat and he'd have exploded by now... He's so fond of raspberries, blackberries, elderberries, sloes(???), even rosehips which I keep pulling him off. But if he can get there he will.
But such a lovely walk, and one I didn't expect to make, but more about that tomorrow!
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Wednesday 7th October - Beautiful Sunsets.
Saturday 10th Oct
It's that point in the year where the sun can be absolutely brilliantly bright, but so low in the sky that it blinds you completely.
Imagine walking down a country lane that has no pavements and where you have little hearing and even less direction of hearing. Imagine then having cars coming racing along the road and around blind corners without thinking about what might be around the corner ... It's not always fun. Sometimes it's quite scary.
Luckily Henry is brilliant and if I see a car and shout "IN" he knows immediately what I mean and even if he's foraging he'll do exactly what I say and get out of the way. If he hears them, he's slowly learning to look and tell me, but that's a hard call for him especially if it's during his off lead time which he so much deserves.
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8th October Update
Saturday 10th Oct
We've been at the front door in pouring rain last winter, me in wellies, big coat, him with his lead, coat etc and I open the door, step out and he looks, up and down, side to side and then gives me the look!! The look that says 'ARE YOU MAD?' I'm no coming out in that mum, get your self away.... The paws go down firmly, he pushes back and there is no way I'm getting him out of the door other than by carrying him and believe me that's not an option.
So we're so thankful for the weather so far.
But I have managed to get his paws wet look!! For a treat he'll venture (but not far - even a treat isn't worth that much) into the river just a tiny bit .... I have evidence. Share
4th October Update - From Henry
Saturday 10th Oct
Oh heck, so behind on posting. Sue is blaming the power cut on Friday, but I just think you can't get the staff!!
However after our Friday walks we did have a lovely evening by the fire with candles and lots of cuddles after my big snooze. We had lovely walks yesterday and then they decided to garden, I watched for a while but retreated to keep an eye on the fire as it wouldn't do if it went out after all! They picked the rest of the apples, but apparently they aren't for me!! I mean really???!!!
Today they finally took me back to Bolam Lake again, it's been AGES!! It was excellent and I had a good sniff about. They were a bit tardy as Sue was looking for mushrooms as usual but only found a Birch Polypore apparently. I was really only worried about snack production. Apparently this evening is about chutney, doesn't appeal, I think I'll just chill by the fire ....
Don't forget if you'd like to sponsor please do - Sue has this idea that as it gets colder I'd just love to walk more in the wind, cold and rain to do 70 miles minimum for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, she might be doing it on her own! A boy has to look after his fireside first and foremost. Honestly the liberties ....
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Why I'm raising money for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
Thursday 1st Oct
On March 24 2025 my life changed entirely when my Sound Dog Henry arrived courtesy of Hearing Dogs For Deaf People. Henry has turned my life upside down in the best possible way and I'm so utterly grateful to them for having him in my life.
I became partially deaf as a child as a result of many operations, scaring and infections, but it wasn't until much later that it was finally recognised and I was listened too... and the words 'oh yes, you are deaf' were finally uttered.
Life with partial hearing isn't easy. Missed conversations, mistaken conversations, not hearing the door, not hearing alarms or timers, the list goes on.
Then there's the fact that I have no sense of direction with sound, so I can hear a noise, be totally unable to identify it and have no idea where it is. In the middle of the night that's a very scary situation, and you have no idea whether there's an issue or not. The fact that it would need to be a loud noise for me to hear it in the first place doesn't bring any comfort.
Henry is magic. He tells me when there's someone at the door, he tells me when alarms are going off, and can distinguish between a timer and the fire alarm and let me know which it is!! How amazing is that? If I hear a noise and he doesn't move, I know it's nothing to worry about, if he hears a noise and isn't sure, he looks in the direction of the noise and that is such a comfort, I can't tell you how much that helps.
He has been trained to get my attention by nudging, I can ignore a timer bleeping in the distance 'IF" I can hear it, however I can't ignore his nose nudging me and looking expectedly at me to follow him .... He so deserves his treats for this and really enjoys them too.
And then there's the comfort of having him by my side, the knowledge that I can rely on him, he can sense if I'm upset and will come and snuggle in. He does love a cuddle anyways and refuses to believe he can't get on my knee, though he's still working out how to get all of him on in one go.
Outdoors I hated going for walks despite knowing I needed the exercise, with Henry I feel much more confident at going out. We live in the middle of nowhere, without pavements and I can't often hear cars approaching, Henry's presence and his lovely stoic personality give me so much more confidence at getting out - plus I think drivers would swerve to avoid him, more than me, as he's pretty adorable! I am biased, totally.
We did this last year and I wasn't sure if we'd manage it this year for lots of reasons, but decided last minute that we'd do it. I'm so very grateful for my Henry and I know first hand having seen for myself the difference a Hearing Dog makes to someone who is totally deaf and it's massive. So I feel honour bound to do my best to help. So despite the fact that its October, it's likely to rain and given Henry doesn't do 'getting wet' thank you, and I may have a task to get him to come with me if the weather really turns, I can't not do this.
If you can support us in any way we'd be so grateful, this organisation means the world to me and without them I'd not have the big uber furry, loving ball of a labradog that I do in Henry. Having him by my side every day has made such a difference to me.
Image shows Henry off lead up on a log seeking the last of the brambles.... He's a bit of a forager!
Thank you to my Sponsors
£17.89
Jo Moran
£17.89
Sharon Jones
Go Sue! You've got this! 🤩
£10
Steve Imray
Enjoy the challenge Sue, I’m sure Henry will.
£10
Sophie Hindhaugh
Well done Sue and Henry - a brilliant challenge for a brilliant cause! 🥰
£10
Ann English
Well done Sue. Enjoy your walks with Henry, knowing every step you take helps others. Xxx
£17.89
June Whiting
£10
Blaydon Communications Ltd
£35
Tom Todd
£28.44
Anonymous
£23.78
I have a friend who has lost thier hearing and has struggled with this. Dogs are incredible and if they can help the deaf as well as all the other amazing support they give us humans then its a cause worth supporting