'With an assistance dog, I would be able to keep going'
Dogs for the Disabled have announced the launch of their ‘County Champions’ fundraiser, and have selected Adam Boyce from Castlepollard for Westmeath.
The 26 County Champions will serve as the face of Dogs for the Disabled in their communities, where they will be ambassadors for the work of the charity and offer personal testimonies.
Since the creation of the charity in 2007, Dogs for the Disabled have worked quietly, transforming the lives of children and adults living with physical disabilities by providing, free of charge, highly trained assistance dogs.
From Task Dogs for wheelchair users, to Mobility Dogs for children with Cerebral Palsy and Ataxia-type conditions and a new Parkinson’s Dog programme, their dogs are individual lifelines, offering practical assistance that increases independence and provides a social connection to those who need it most.
Now, the charity are unveiling their County Champions to help raise funds to renovate a period house on 11 acres, on the outskirts of Cork City, as their national training centre and headquarters (details below).
Meet Adam, the Westmeath County Champion
My Name is Adam, I am nine years old and I was diagnosed with PVL white matter brain damage resulting in spastic diplegic cerebral palsy when I was 18 months old.
It affects both my legs, my left arm more, my core and my balance.
I was told that the likelihood of me walking was not high.
My parents never set any limitations on what I tried to do and always encouraged me to try my best at everything.
I started physiotherapy when I was just eight months old. At that stage, my movement was limited and forced. My physiotherapists worked hard with me but I was still not able to move.
When I was three and a half, my OT gave me a Kwalker to try to start walking aided.
When I finally got the hang of my kwalker, I realised that I could manage to play football outside if I was using it.
I practised playing football every single day during the summer, I even went for very short walks in my Kwalker, enjoying my freedom.
When I was four years old I took my first independent steps. I was so proud of myself but they were really hard.
Today I am able to walk around indoors fully unaided, I mainly use my Kwalker when I am at school or when I am at outdoor events.
I applied to get a disability dog because with an assistance dog, I would be able to keep going, I would be able to be a lot more independent, for the things I am still not great with like putting on my socks, opening up doors and walking through them at the same time, keeping my balance on uneven surfaces.
My assistance dog would be right there with me helping me, I wouldn’t need to keep asking for help.
I would be able to do things by myself!
My dog would give me the extra support and confidence in the gym so I can continue to go from strength to strength.
Find out more about the county champions here.
National training centre and headquarters
The period house requires complete renovation and the immediate goal is to raise €500,000 to get it fit for purpose, and operational as soon as possible. Phase 2 (cost €1.5m) will develop the grounds and outbuildings as follows:
• Outdoors, there are two adjacent properties on site which will be converted into houses for dogs in training.
• The grounds will contain two accommodation cabins to enable children and adults to stay on site while being trained with their assistance dogs.
• Landscaped areas created with safe walkways for the children with mobility issues to learn to walk with their new assistance dogs in private, without the current fear of falling in public.
• They will have the space to facilitate on-site therapies in three ground floor rooms with paediatric physiotherapists working alongside dogs trained to perform specific tasks to assist children during physiotherapy sessions.
Dogs for the Disabled County Champions will:
• Make contact with their local media outlets, to give interviews, have photographs taken and share their testimonies.
• Introduce themselves to local businesses and encourage them to support Dogs for the Disabled through corporate partnerships or donations.
• Encourage local fundraising efforts, such as coffee mornings, mini marathons, and community events. Every small act of kindness will help.
“Dogs for the Disabled are driven by our wish for a better world, a world where our partners are not limited by their physical disability but are active members of society with the help of our highly-trained assistance dogs,” said founder and CEO Jennifer Dowler.