Pictured: Amanda Allcroft (left), of Pertemps People
Development Group, meets Hearing Dog Dorree and owner Howard
Hodgkisson, of Solihull, and Vicky Ryan, of the Hearing Dogs
charity
Hearing dog Dorree lapped up the attention when two runners who
completed one of the UK's biggest athletics events presented a
charity with more than £700.
Dorree and owner Howard Hodgkisson, of Solihull near Birmingham,
accepted the donation on behalf of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
from Andrew Petford and Adrian Brown, of employment and training
experts Pertemps People Development Group (PPDG).
It gave the charity a great kick-start to the year in which it
celebrates its 30th anniversary.
For many years employees at Birmingham-based PPDG have been
involved with the charity, supporting events, staging fundraising
activities, undertaking challenges and sponsoring several dogs.
This inspirational partnership continued recently when Andrew
and Adrian took on the challenge of the BUPA Great North Run and
raised a fantastic £710 for Hearing Dogs with support from
PPDG. The cheque was presented in Birmingham to volunteer Howard
Hodgkisson and Dorree by Amanda Allcroft, of PPDG.
Vicky Ryan, Hearing Dogs' community fundraising manager for the
Midlands, said the charity is now calling on people to take up the
baton and join this year's running team in the BUPA Great North
Run, on Sunday 16 September, in Newcastle.
The general ballot opens on the 7th January 2012 so enter at
www.greatrun.org and if you are successful in securing your own
place and would like to run for Hearing Dogs simply contact the
charity for a support pack.
However, if you are one of the many eager runners not so lucky
in the ballot please do not hesitate to contact us; Hearing Dogs
for Deaf People have a number of Gold Bond places for runners
prepared to pledge a minimum of just £300 in sponsorship,
added Vicky.
With no government funding, Hearing Dogs relies on supporters to
raise funds. Every penny raised in sponsorship helps to give deaf
people the confidence to leave behind the isolation deafness can
bring.
"To secure your place please contact us for further information
and an application form. But you must be quick off the mark as
spaces fill up fast!
"Once you have signed up Hearing Dogs will support you every
step of the way. From fundraising and training advice to the chance
to visit our training centre in Bielby East Yorkshire to meet some
of our hearing dogs in training and a post race reception at the
Charity Village with refreshments and sports massage," added
Vicky.
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People - which celebrates its 30th
anniversary in 2012 - trains dogs to alert deaf people to specific
household sounds and danger signals, whether in the home, workplace
or in public buildings. These sounds include the smoke alarm,
doorbell, cooker timer, mobile phone and alarm clock.
Hearing dogs also wear distinctive burgundy jackets when out in
public as a clear indicator of their recipient's otherwise largely
invisible disability.
Since its launch in 1982, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People has
trained over 1,600 hearing dogs and there are 750 hearing dogs
currently in operation across the UK bringing independence,
confidence and companionship to deaf people.
To secure your place in the BUPA Great North Run 2012 and for
more in formation about Hearing Dogs for Deaf People please contact
Vicky Ryan on 07824 329 063 or vicky.ryan@hearingdogs.org.uk
PPDG's total donations to charities and good causes through its
award-winning payroll-giving scheme recently broke the
£150,000 barrier. Around two thirds of employees are involved
in payroll deductions that benefit others less fortunate in the
community.
For more information about Pertemps People Development Group,
please visit their website here: www.ppdg.co.uk