Double amputee Jill Keast Doran makes progress with her "bum shuffle" on her charity walk during the WDP Santa Dash
As well as helping raise funds for WDP she also wanted to raise awareness and funds for Dog (assistance in disability) which has been her savior not just physically but mentally too. Jill explained: “When I was 15 I was diagnosed with Charcot Marie Tooth disease which I was told affects the bottom half of your legs by the nerves dying off preventing the muscles from working. Many years later I realized it did far more than that. “Fast forward to 2007 and many surgeries, my legs had become so wasted and painful, I was given two options, fusion of my right leg or above knee amputation. I went for option one and a full-length metal rod was inserted through the bones from my ankle to my pelvis, this was impossible to live with so I went with the second option of amputation above the knee in 2008 – best decision ever! I tried a prosthetic, going to physio twice a week for 7 years but it wasn’t to be. “During these years I got an Italian Spinone and took her to dog training classes where I met the trainer Peta Brandwood who helped me train ‘Minnie’ in the basics. Several months later I received a call from Peta saying she had become a volunteer trainer for the charity Dog AID and had I heard of it? I had years earlier tried to get on their scheme with my then chocolate Labrador, Murphy, but there were no trainers in the North West, so when Peta offered me this opportunity I actually cried.”
Size: 5184px × 3456px
Location: Walton Hall and Gardens, Warrington, Cheshire, England, UK
Photo credit: © John Hopkins / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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