Jan and Marti qualify to represent hearing dogs charity as ambassadors

Jan and her hearing dog Marti recently attended a speaker training session and passed with flying colours.

Sue Pellow, community fundraising manager for the South East region, said: “I am delighted that Jan and Marti have joined the speaker team and are now set to visit local groups, clubs and schools in the Bexhill and Hastings area to talk about the charity and how we train dogs like Marti to transform the lives of their profoundly deaf owners.”

Jan received her first hearing dog, Dolly, in 1992 when she qualified as a lip-reading teacher and now has Marti, who is her third hearing dog.

Jan lost her hearing overnight when she was seven months pregnant with her second child.

Jan said: “It’s called sensory neural loss; a hormone change when I was pregnant affected the hair cells in the cochlea causing loss hearing loss. It’s a rare genetic fault in my family on my mother’s side. It was very traumatic when it happened and I felt as though I’d been plunged into a world of darkness. I struggled to cope with a baby and young son and I was living in a new town.

“Just like my two previous dogs, Marti has made such a positive influence on my life that I felt I really wanted to share that joy with others in the hope that they too might benefit from knowing about Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. I am really looking forward to getting out with Marti and meeting lots of local people.”

If you would like Jan and Marti to give a talk to your club, school or group please contact Sue Pellow, Community Fundraising Manager 01323 508932 or email [email protected]