A Royal Navy Warrant Officer based at HMS Raleigh is aiming to raise £5,000 to name a service dog after the establishment.
Warrant Officer 2 Sean Reeves and his wife Jacqui are supporting Hounds for Heroes; a charity providing specially trained assistance dogs to injured or disabled men and women from the UK Armed Forces and UK civilian emergency services.
The couple are looking to raise the money to support a dog in memory of Jacqui’s father, Brian Hall, who died suddenly in January.
Sean said: “Dogs have always been in my wife’s family and we originally wanted to name the dog Brian.
“However with Hounds for Heroes providing assistance dogs for military personnel or members of the emergency services, Brian didn’t fit, so we are now planning to sponsor a pup and call him or her Raleigh.”
“My dad was a dog handler in the Army during his national service and a life-long dog owner.
“We have a long history of Police service and nursing within the family, so Hounds for Heroes is a perfect fit.
“Dad was also a big fan of the Royal Navy and would sit on the Hoe looking at the ships and submarines.
“He was delighted to go to sea on HMS Torbay for a family’s day with Sean when he was serving on board.” said Jacqui, who previously worked as part of the Princess Mary’s Royal Air Force Nursing Service.
So far Sean and Jacqui, who live in Torpoint, have raised just over £1,700 through their just giving page – www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jacqueline-reeves4 - and through the generosity of families and friends attending HMS Raleigh’s passing-out-parades.
Sean said: “I give a presentation to the families about the charity each week. I tell them about Allen Parton, a Chief Petty Officer, who suffered a severe head injury during the 1991 Gulf War.
“Allen’s life was changed completely. The injury wiped out his memories and left him unable to walk, speak or write.
“He couldn’t remember getting married or having children. After five years in hospital he was partnered with Endal, a Labrador assistance dog, and his life was transformed.
“Endal could respond to over one hundred commands as well as problem solve.
“On one occasion Allen was knocked out of his wheelchair and left unconscious in a car park. Endal pulled Allen into the recovery position and went to raise the alarm. It’s an inspiring story.”
From his experience Allen set up the charity. On the charity’s website – www.houndsforheroes.com - he says: “It has been a dream of mine to have a charity that works specifically for these people who routinely put their lives in danger.
“Hounds for Heroes is our chance of giving people the same chances that I have had. We owe them a great debt and this is our way of saying thank you.”
Endal died in 2009 and now Allen is partnered with EJ, Endal Junior, who was the first dog to be trained under the auspices of Hounds for Heroes.
