National charity, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, is appealing for local volunteers who can spare a little time to help on its stall at the Isle of Wight Garlic Festival on 17 and 18 August.
The festival has been held every August since 1983, just outside Newchurch.
Attended by families young and old, the Island’s biggest summer show plays host to star chefs, musicians, local charities and businesses.
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, a national charity that trains dogs that help deaf people reconnect with life, has partnered several people on the Island with hearing dogs who are trained to alert them to life-saving and important sounds.
The idea of taking a stall at the Festival came from one of those people, Clive Molyneux from Newport. Clive, 71, wanted to give something back to the charity after he was partnered with his hearing dog, Lupin, a red cocker spaniel.
Clive was born with a condition called CHARGE Syndrome which affects all his senses, including his hearing.
Before being partnered with Lupin, his hearing loss often left him feeling isolated and lonely – in his own words he felt ‘part of the furniture and not the conversation’.
Clive explained:
“It was my wonderful sister - my rock - who encouraged me to apply for a hearing dog and I’ve never looked back.
"As well as alerting me to important and potentially life-saving sounds such as the smoke alarm, cooker timer and doorbell, she gives me constant companionship.
"I am less lonely since getting her and she’s a real talking point when we’re out and about, which has helped me make new friends.
“She means everything to me – she’s my best pal!
“Since getting Lupin, in addition to the volunteering work I already do for the RNID, I’ve become a volunteer for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People so that I can give something back to the charity that has made such a difference to me.
That’s why I wanted to have a stall at the Festival – it will be a great opportunity to spread the word about its work.”
Jordan Chamberlain, Community Fundraising Manager for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, added:
“If there is anyone out there, maybe someone who’s already going to the Festival, who feels they could spare a couple of hours, either on Saturday or Sunday, we would be incredibly grateful. If you are not free to support this event but would like to support fundraising in other ways, please get in touch.
“Our volunteers tell us that as well as knowing they are helping change the lives of deaf people, helping out the charity is a great way of meeting new friends and like-minded people.”
Anyone interested can contact Jordan at Jordan.chamberlain@
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