Latest news with #CaninePartners
BBC News
03-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
'My assistance dog helps me be part of life'
"When you're dealing with a lot of changes in your life, the last thing you think about is getting a dog."But being paired with Rolo, a dedicated assistance dog, in 2021 has been invaluable for Andrew Miles, who suffered a spinal cord injury in a car crash in Brazil a decade black labrador helps the 70-year-old, who now uses a wheelchair, with a range of day-to-day tasks - from picking up dropped keys to moving clothes in and out of the washing Miles, who lives in Derby, said Rolo also helped him be "part of life", but the charity that brought them together has temporarily closed its waiting list to new applicants due to a lack of volunteers. Canine Partners, based in Leicestershire, has now issued an urgent appeal for people to come forward to train puppies who will go on to become assistance dogs for people with physical Miles had not considered an assistance dog until a chance encounter with another wheelchair user and their canine companion while shopping in the Meteor Centre in said: "We were chatting, comparing notes because we were both in chairs and the penny dropped, because I'd never thought about it." Mr Miles applied to the charity but, with lockdowns due to the Covid-19 pandemic, he was unable to spend the required two weeks at its base in Osgathorpe, near Canine Partners moved Rolo into his home and visited daily for training, and the two have never looked Miles said: "He's trained to pick things up for me - my keys, my gloves. "If I'm out in the workshop doing some jobs, he'll pick up a screwdriver or something."And for me, it may sound quite a minor thing for the onlooker, but actually when you're in a wheelchair and you drop something, it's a real pain."Rolo also opens and closes doors for Mr Miles but said he provided more than practical help."When you're involved in a life-changing accident or you have an illness that comes and changes your ability to be mobile you sometimes sort of step back and let life go by," he explained."Because I've got a dog, I've got responsibility. A canine partner help you be part of life. They don't let you watch the world go by." Canine Partners had about 100 people on its waiting list when it closed to new volunteers look after puppies until they are about 15 months old, teaching them basic obedience and socialisation dogs are then paired with their new companions, who they will live with, and begin specialist training, which costs about £50,000 per dog trainer Steph Dainty said: "Volunteers really do start the dog's first chapter off for us and get them to the amazing standard they need to be to then come in to do the assistance dog stuff."They can really go on to do some amazing things. "People are always shocked by what our dogs can do - and then want one for themselves."Lucy Eldred, chief executive of the charity, added: "Other than the time and the commitment, you don't need any specialist skills or experience."We're looking for anything that anyone would offer any normal dog in puppyhood, which is a loving, caring home and basic obedience and basic socialisation."
BBC News
27-04-2025
- Health
- BBC News
'Manchester Marathon will be victory lap after ME diagnosis'
A woman who was unable to walk while struggling with chronic fatigue syndrome has said running the Manchester Marathon later will be a "victory lap" to celebrate how far she has Sheridan, 28, was diagnosed with the condition, also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), in said while there was "no right way to manage" ME, she wanted to convey hope to others who were software engineer, from Middleton, Rochdale, described the 26.2 miles (42km) run on Sunday as a "kind of big 'in your face' to a lot of people". "When I was undiagnosed there was no blood test that said anything was wrong with me," she said."A lot of people said, 'she's just lazy or skiving or not trying hard enough' or 'it's just pain, push through it' and I couldn't."No-one with chronic fatigue can. It doesn't work like that." According to the NHS, myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a long-term condition that can affect different parts of the body with the most common symptom known to be extreme Sheridan struggled with exhaustion and her symptoms continued to worsen until she eventually required a said there was not a simple explanation for her recovery, but she had been helped by her assistance dog Hamble, who was provided by Canine Partners in 2019."I was constantly in survival-mode and felt like I'd never be able to recover," she said."With Hamble's help, I was able to slowly rebuild my strength and mobility." 'Significant milestone' In early 2024, the 28-year-old went for her first run and she has not looked back."I've gotten better somehow. I have friends, a huge support group of fellow sufferers and they all want to know what I did," she said."All I can say is that I did what I could. I have B12 jabs and that kind of helped."There's no 'I tried this medication and it worked'. There's no answers and it's tough knowing there's still no answers out there for them."She added that the Manchester Marathon marked "a significant milestone" in her journey."Having full mobility is something I really took for granted before I lost my ability to walk, and it's something that I make a conscious effort to celebrate even on the bad days." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Daily Mirror
25-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
'I had to learn how to walk again - now I'm running a marathon'
Kelsey Sheridan is getting ready for her first ever marathon event after she lost mobility and had to learn to walk again A 28-year-old software engineer who had to learn to walk again after being diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome is lacing up for her first marathon event. Kelsey Sheridan, from Middleton, Greater Manchester, is one of 36,000 participants taking part in the adidas Manchester Marathon 2025 on Sunday (April 27). She will be joined by her assistance dog, Hamble, for around 10km of the race. Kelsey, who is aiming for a sub-five-hour finish time, chose to run the adidas Manchester Marathon to mark a significant milestone in her recovery journey. "I first became unwell in the summer of 2016, during my first year of university. By the time I returned to my second-year studies after the holidays, I was in a wheelchair, as I'd been diagnosed with CFS/ME," she explained. "Before diagnosis, I struggled with varying symptoms. When I was younger, I could never sleep enough or wake up for school. This continued until my 20s. I struggled with exhaustion but originally these symptoms were thought to be caused by depression." Kelsey went on to graduate in 2018, but she was unable to work or leave the house without her assistance dog, Hamble. According to the NHS, symptoms of myalgic encephalomyelitis, often known as chronic fatigue syndrome, include sleep problems, feeling extremely tired all the time, problems with thinking, concentration and memory, and symptoms getting worse after physical or mental activity. The cause is unknown, and there is currently no cure. However, treatments may help manage the condition and relieve symptoms. There's no specific test for chronic fatigue syndrome, meaning it's diagnosed based on symptoms and by ruling out other conditions. Kelsey said: "When Hamble and I were first partnered by charity Canine Partners in 2019, I was a full-time wheelchair user who was mainly housebound. I was constantly overdoing it just to survive and was unable to recover and increase my capabilities safely. "Hamble is trained to support those with mobility issues and for me this was taking shoes, socks and clothing off. Fetching items, emptying the washing machine, passing me anything I ask for and fetching items like shoes or the TV remote. "With Hamble's help, I was able to slowly rebuild my strength and mobility. It was a tough period to say the least, but I'm so grateful to say that in November 2023, I was finally able to put down my crutches and walk freely again." In June 2024, Kelsey went for her first run since losing her mobility, and she soon set her sights on her next challenge. "I chose to run the adidas Manchester Marathon to mark a significant milestone in my recovery journey. Having full mobility is something I really took for granted before I lost my ability to walk, and it's something that I make a conscious effort to celebrate – even on the bad days," the 28-year-old explained. She's also set her sights on a time goal. "The adidas Manchester Marathon is my local event, in the city where I lost and ultimately regained my mobility. It's my first marathon, so I'd absolutely love to achieve a sub-five-hour finish time if possible." Kelsey was keen to acknowledge that chronic fatigue syndrome is not the same for everyone. "The truth is, medications and slow rehab may work for some, but not others," she said. "My advice to anyone who's lost their mobility due to health reasons would be to just keep going and think positively but allow yourself the bad days. We never know what the future might bring, so focus on the present and enjoy every moment!"
