Several members of the Lockyers team ran 10K round Pontefract Racecourse on 3rd July, raising funds for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People Hearing dogs make an enormous difference to life for deaf people. In addition to alerting deaf people to important and life-saving sounds these amazing dogs can also help combat isolation, stress and loneliness which are critical issues in the current state of our world. Lockyers are still taking donations through our Just Giving page, we really appreciate your support www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lockyers-team2

Here is Jenny’s story

Jenny was diagnosed with hearing loss when she was just seven years old. Her hearing deteriorated over her childhood and she was eventually diagnosed with a sensory neurological hearing loss. Although she was given her first pair of hearing aids at the age of 13, her hearing continued to deteriorate and Jenny is now severely to profoundly deaf.

Jenny says “In my teens I didn’t feel a part of any group at school. I found it so hard to follow conversations. Peers weren’t very supportive and made fun of my hearing aids. When I reached my 20s I still felt so isolated and depressed due to my deafness. Working life was hard, as people didn’t understand the severity of my difficulties because my speech was good, so I didn’t ‘sound deaf’. Deafness is such an isolating condition.”

In 2015 Jenny was matched with Xander, a lovable miniature poodle who eased her depression and started to give Jenny the confidence back that deafness had robbed from her. After being held back by years of isolation, the sky’s the limit for Jenny with Xander by her side!

“Xander has made others more aware of my deafness as his uniform tells people that I am deaf. By making other people more aware, they communicate better with me. He wakes me up in the morning, lets me know when someone is at the door, when the phone is ringing and when the cooker timer is going off. With Xander by my side I feel so much safer, more confident and happier. I’ve stopped worrying about loneliness because with Xander I’ll never be alone. I can now move forward with confidence.”

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People