Marette vs Mt. Elbrus

8 years ago my Mum landed home with what I could only describe as a bear! It wasn't in fact a bear, but her new Guide Dog, Yaz. From birth my Mum Marian has had a genetic condition which affected her eye sight. Growing up I never took any notice of it, she didn't use a white cane and she didn't have a Guide Dog. Over the years her sight deteriorated and as a result she required the use of a white cane to help her get around. It wasn't until a friend of hers, a Guide Dog user recommended that she consider getting one, that she took it upon herself to learn more. For those of you who don't know since 1976 Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind has provided a guide dog programme for people who have a vision impairment or total sight loss. A guide dog is specially trained to accompany and enable a vision impaired person to move about safely, independently and with confidence. My Mum has always been super independent and motivated and has never let her impairment stop her from doing anything, but when she got Yaz the difference it made to her life was amazing! When we were young I remember my Mum being an avid walker she loved it, but as her sight deteriorated more and more she couldn’t go out and enjoy a stroll without being very anxious. The minute she met Yaz in Cork this changed, I recall the phone call with her even now and the excitement in her voice as she explained how the training was going. 'I'll be able to go out walking again' she beamed. To this day she brings him almost every day, hail, rain or shine!! The biggest difference and what I was astonished by is the way people interact with the dog, it breaks down that barrier and fear. Everyone always wants to say hello Yaz, and are fascinated by what he does. Yaz has been such an addition to our family, I can't imagine my Mum's life or my own for that matter without him now. Sadly, next year Yaz must retire and hopefully get to live out his retirement in the lap of luxury with me. My mum will go onto a new chapter with a new Guide Dog. For now, I wanted to say thank you to Yaz and the Guide Dogs by #challangingmyself. On August 19th, I will take on the highest mountain in Europe, Mt. Elbrus. Standing at 5,642 meters to say it’s going to be difficult is an understatement. That’s where you will come in, any donation you can make would be greatly appreciated and every cent will be well spent in training doggies to help give people like my mum more independence. 80% of the Irish Guide Dogs for the blind funds comes from fundraising and donations from the public. It costs a whopping €38,000 to create a Guide Dog partnership, so your generosity will enable them to help persons who are blind or vision impaired like my Mum achieve independence, confidence and mobility, so any bit you donate will help. And the more I can raise the more it will spur me on while I’m trudging up that mountain! So dig deep & thank you so much.