A WOMAN with a passion for animals is taking on two challenges to raise funds for guide dogs.

Sara Ender, who lives in Malton, who runs a dog walking and pet sitting business, is walking the Yorkshire Three Peaks later this month, followed by the Great North Run in September.

She said: “I have always had a passion for animals and I have been brought up around them. I volunteered as a dog walker for the Dogs Trust for many years gaining lots of experience with all types of dogs.

“I also bred a couple of litters of greyhounds which went on to be successful racing dogs.”

Sara added: “I have decided to raise money for the charity Guide Dogs as I admire so much all the work that goes into training these amazing animals.

“It costs £32,400 to train a guide dog partnership.

“This covers the first two years – from birth to graduation.

“After then, it costs £12,800 to support the working partnership. Guide dogs can literally transform someone’s life and give them their independence back.”

The ability to get around is vital in order to live a full life yet thousands of people with sight loss never leave home alone.

The charity Guide Dogs empowers visually impaired people to do that and rely on the support of the public to fund the guide dog service.

Sara said her first challenge was walking the Yorkshire Three Peaks, Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough on June 24, followed by the Great North Run on September 10.

“All my training for the two events will take place whilst I am out doing my daily dog walking routes in and around Malton.

“Through the summer months when people are jetting off on holiday I very rarely even get a day off and I dog walk six days a week from 10am to 4pm.

“Dogs make excellent training partners as they don’t laugh at you or judge you when you are having a bad day and what better way to train than combining my job with my training and to raise money for an excellent cause.”

Anyone who would like to sponsor Sara can do so at www.justgiving.com/SJEdogwalker