Support a challenge

If you would like to support any of the Canine Partners supporters on their various challenges visit; www.justgiving.com/CPI/

102 mile South Downs Walk, 27 August 2010 - www.justgiving.com/Shaun-Griffin

"My friend and colleague Rob Marchant at Joint Port Intelligence Unit at Gatwick Airport (part of Sussex Police) has MS and is in the matching process for a canine partner. Like others in the office I am doing a sponsored event to raise funds to help provide more people like Rob get an assistance dog." said Shaun.

You too can join Shaun walking the 102 miles of The South Downs Way from Eastbourne to Winchester starting on Friday 27th August, over the bank holiday weekend and into the following week or support him on www.justgiving.com/Shaun-Griffin.

5km Triple Challenger - www.justgiving.com/NitramNella1

On 26 May, 28 July and 13 August 2010, Martin Allen, a member of the Personnel and Training Team at East Sussex County Council will be running a 5km road race on each date in support of Canine Partners.

"I am not affiliated to any running club and please don't be disappointed if I am not featured on the news having narrowly failed to smash the 5km world record by......oooh.....several minutes. These are also my first competitive races since I finished 43rd in the Inter Sussex Schools Cross Country Race in 1980 something..." added Martin.

Many thanks to Martin and East Sussex County Council for their ongoing support.

Edinburgh Marathon, 23 May - www.justgiving.com/StuartAusterberry

“Through my job, I've been lucky enough to have been working with Canine Partners. When I visited their training facilities, I was taken aback by what they do and how much support they provide. They train each dog to specifically meet the needs of the individual, and the staff work incredibly hard. It is amazing to hear how much of a difference these dogs make to peoples lives.”

20 Hour Challenge, 9 July - www.justgiving.com/20HourChallenge

Paul Reader & Ben Kay will embark on a 20 Hour endurance run along the South Downs Way, starting in Winchester at 4am in the morning. The intrepid runners will aim to cover as many miles as humanly possible before the 20 hours elapse at Midnight, with the ultimate target of reaching Eastbourne some 100 miles away, at the other end of the South Downs Way.

Ben Nevis in a Boma, 29 August - http://www.justgiving.com/Sally-Hyder

Sally Hyder, who has canine partner Harmony, will be attempting the Ben Nevis Challenge on 29 August. Sally – who has MS and is a wheelchair user - will be climbing Ben Nevis almost entirely unaided, thanks to a Boma wheelchair kindly donated by Molten Rock. Please help Sally achieve her goal by visiting her JustGiving page above.

Opportunities to challenge yourself

Joint Port Intelligence Unit at Gatwick Airport (part of Sussex Police) have adopted Canine Partners as the office charity and DS Ian Webb is doing the London to Paris Bike Ride, Fri 30 July - Mon 02 August 2010 www.justgiving.com/jpiu .

Would you like to join us and challenge yourself on this or another event in 2010?:

Dates and a variety of challenges to suit all available at: caninepartners.org.uk/challenges, for more details and guaranteed places contact Julie James on 01730 716 015 or email here. Fundraising tool kit, t-shirt and a FREE soft toy jacketed puppy for all of you challenging yourself!

WELL DONE TO ALL OUR supporters...

Dog-ged determination! – one vet’s bid to run the Virgin London Marathon - www.justgiving.com/Simon-the-vet

Simon DeVile is a veterinary surgeon and one of the partners at St Anne’s Veterinary Group in Eastbourne. He is taking on the huge challenge of running the London Marathon to raise money for Canine Partners. Here he explains why: “My aim is to complete the marathon in less than 3 hours 30 minutes and I am training with this as my goal. This involves running six times a week for 16 weeks and covering up to 50 miles a week in training. As you can imagine I have to get out of bed early to fit in the running! This year I have been lucky enough to land a ballot place in the Virgin London Marathon. This has given me the opportunity to run for a charity of my choice. So, why Canine Partners? Well, it’s all about transforming lives.

Canine Partners first came to my attention through my work as a veterinary surgeon caring for puppies in training. Local fundraiser and Satellite Manager Ruth Narracott has been a client of the practice for many years. To date about 30 prospective Canine Partner puppies have been cared for at our practice. As a vet I am aware of the value of the human-animal bond and its potential therapeutic benefits. The practical assistance that these dogs provide can dramatically improve quality of life for disabled people.

I also have had first hand experience of the changes in your life that disability can bring about. In 2009 my father lost a leg following a knee replacement surgery. This has left him effectively wheel chair bound and has had a profound effect on his life which he has borne with great dignity. Simple tasks suddenly became very difficult, painful or impossible. The value of a canine partner in reducing the impact of disability cannot be understated.”

Virgin London Marathon, 25 April - www.justgiving.com/Nick-Poole

Nick Poole from 3M joked “I only entered the ballot on a whim and by pure fluke got it. My reason is simple to raise as much money and awareness for Canine Partners as I possibly can and the London Marathon is arguably the biggest chance to do that.

Ever since I've been involved with Canine Partners I've been totally overwhelmed and humbled at the amazing work our dogs do with their partners and any way I can support the charity is good enough for me and worth all the pain and hard work training. I've not had an ideal preparation, ankle surgery last November, my right knee is knackered, overweight and not forgetting I'm 53!!”

Canine Partners for Independence. Registered in England No. 2516146. Charity Commission Registered No. 803680. Scottish Registered Charity No. SCO39050