A Guide Dog named Ian

Help me raise £5,000 for Ian.

For all of you that know my story, if it wasn’t for a Guide Dog named Ian, I simply wouldn’t be here today.

No, I’m not registered blind, but a little over ten years ago I was working a really stressful job and had a heart attack.

I woke up in hospital to find I’d had a pacemaker fitted and I was told that to carry on living, I’d have to seriously change my life.

So, me and my extra bionic heart quit the stressful job and I tried to concentrate on getting better. I never had a dog growing up, and always wanted one, so I thought that having a cute little pup around would help with my recovery.

Then one day...

I saw an advert for Guide Dogs for the Blind on TV and it gave the idea that not only could I have a little pup, but this little pup could go on to help others. I was completely sold on the idea and after various applications, interviews and training, my tiny, 7-week-old, ginger prince arrived.

Early life with Ian changed everything for me.

Yes, he was gorgeous and loveable, but as anyone who’s raised a pup will understand, he was a right handful too!

Ian lived out his first 18 months with me by his side. We trained daily, went through a number of chewed chair legs, little accidents in public places, large accidents in public places and an insane amount of drool and fur being left on the clothes of all the humans he’d meet.

All in a name...

A wonderous thing about him was, that no matter what he did, to whoever he did it to, there was nobody on Earth who could be mad at a guide dog… especially one called Ian.

His very name has made so many people smile over the years. I mean, how many times do you meet a dog that has a name more suited to a middle-aged accountant?

During our time together, Ian was growing up fast and learning how to become a guide dog. Soon, he’d smashed his training and all of a sudden, he’d gone on to his next journey and he’d left my life.

I have never replaced the Ian in my life, but in the ten years since, I have managed to help raise 20 more guide dogs and it’s all because of Ian that I’ve been given the inspiration to do this.

I even created a business and went on Dragons’ Den, all thanks to being a volunteer for Guide Dogs.

The amazing Ian at work...

As an unbelievable stroke of luck, Ian’s forever dad, Mark, reached out to me and told me all about how Ian was doing and soon we became good friends and I got to visit Ian again. Ian was back in my life and I couldn’t be happier.

Since then, we’ve kept in touch and it makes me so happy to see the wonderful life that Ian and Mark have had by each other’s side. The love that Mark shows Ian is inspiring and the devotion they both have for each other makes me so happy.

Whenever Mark and his lovely wife Kerry would go away, they would ask me to take care of Ian and I would snatch their hand off every time.

It was in getting to know Mark and Kerry that we worked out a bit of a retirement plan for Ian when it came time for him to hang up his guide dog harness.

The big plan was that when Ian got to around the age of ten, that he’d actually retire and come to live with me, my husband, our little boy and our guide dog pups in training. In this way, Mark would still get to keep in touch with Ian and I’d get to treat him like the ginger prince that he is – He’d also get to pass on his wisdom and teach the young pups how it’s done.

It was all going to be just perfect.

I was so overjoyed at the very thought of Ian coming back to me, but then disaster struck and Mark called me on Christmas eve 2024 and said there was a problem.

He had developed a big lump in his chest and was having trouble walking. I headed over to be with Mark by Ian’s side and we took him for lots of tests following this.

I’m struggling to write this now, but we’ve been told that Ian is a very poorly boy, he has cancer and doesn’t have long left. He was within a year of retirement and we’re all completely devastated.

He's led such a wonderful life and brought happiness to Mark and Kerry, but also to everyone that he’s met.

For me, he’s changed my life and in many ways he’s saved my life. He gave me the strength to carry on and he’s given Mark love and support that cannot be measured.

How to honour the great Ian...

I’d like to raise the money it takes to name another guide dog… And the most perfect name I can think of is… Ian!

The cost to sponsor and name a dog is £5,000, so that’s what I’m trying to raise.

I’ll be doing this by putting on a big old doggy walk on Sunday 9th February at 2pm. The walk will start at North Pier, opposite Blackpool tower.

The walk will take place on Blackpool promenade and is an open invite to all who would like to come. Blackpool felt a very fitting place, as this is where he and Mark qualified and Ian has lived his Guide Dog life.

The walk is 5,000 steps for £5,000 – so it will only take around an hour or so.

I think that Ian would love for as many doggies to come and join him on this walk. Ian is struggling to walk long distances now, so I’ve got him a snazzy new pram, so he can still be involved. Like a royal carriage for our Ginger Prince.

I’ll be walking alongside Ian with my current guide dog in training, Otis and I’d absolutely love for as many dogs as possible to join us.

Your love and support will be forever appreciated.

This is not just a walk for the dogs, it’s open to absolutely anyone who would like to support. So, you don’t need a dog to join in, just come alone, or bring friends, family, whoever you like and walk with us.

For those who don’t feel like they can manage the walk, we’d love for you to come and cheer us on.

If you can’t make it, your support through donations and sharing this cause with your friends and followers would be truly wonderful.

I’m sorry this is short notice, but we have been told that Ian doesn’t have a lot of time left with us.

Ian is such a special boy, he’s done so much good and although his life going to be shorter than it should be, it would make my two hearts sing to know that his name can go on and inspire another brave pup on their guide dog journey.

Please help us carry on this amazing doggy legacy, in the name of Ian.

Thank you with all my hearts,

Gemma x