Jumping For Hope

How far would your humans go to help a good cause? I talked to Dennis of @DennisAndDoris1 about that, and was amazed at what he told me! 

First things first, though. Here’s the interview in full.

BJB: Dennis, when you were on #OTLFP you told the wonderful story of how Doris first came to live with you. For those who haven’t heard it yet (and those of us who’d love to hear it again!), could you tell it now? 

DENNIS: So, I was lucky that my family found me in the rescue centre when I was 11 years old. Nearly 4 years ago just before Christmas, me mum was looking at Twitter and saw a Tweet that had been re-tweeted through #OTLFP about an old girl aged 13 who had been left at a rescue centre and was feeling lost. 

Our mum said, "Right Dennis, someone needs us so let's go!". After a quick homecheck and a long drive, I met Doris!! We had a quick sniff and a walk, and then I brought her home. I said, "Don't worry love, you're home now and I'll look after you" and I did. My Doris passed away gently 3 1/2  years later, with a smile on her face and surrounded with love. 

BJB: That’s so beautiful, Dennis! I’m so glad Doris passed so peacefully, but it must have been very sad for you. What happened next? 

DENNIS: Well, after our Doris died, I'm not going to lie, I was a bit lonely. So,off we went to our local North Clwyd Animal Rescue to see if there was another pal who might need my help. Me dad is a volunteer there and we go there a lot, so they know what a gentle chap I am. So they said they had a five year old nervous girl who could do with some company, and learning that life isn't scary. So we met in the field, we said hello, and I brought her back home. Oh, she's given me a spring in my step, and I've been introducing her to my pals! It's great to have some company again.

BJB: I bet it is! Rosie looks like a lovely addition to the family (and the #CheerTeam!), and I bet she’s very grateful for you looking after her! 

Your humans sound like very kind and caring people, and I’ve heard they do a lot of good things to be helpful, too! Can you tell me a bit more about what they get up to? 

DENNIS: So, our humans thing it's important to help whenever they can. Mum says it's about not just thinking about yourself,  and that we should all imagine what it's like to walk in someone else's shoes. So, they try to do at least one charity fundraising thing a year, and have done long walks, a stair climbing challenge, mountain hikes, cake sales, and every year they do as many charity Santa Dashes that they can!! Mad. 

This summer my mum and my boy are going to jump out of a plane!! It's for Hope House Children's Hospice. My mum says that Hospices get a bad deal because they don't get any government funding directly, that's why we all need to help them out. 

BJB: Wow!! That’s amazing — do please tell us more about it!! 

DENNIS: So tomorrow my mum and boy are jumping out a plane to raise funds for Hope House. They've supported this fantastic charity lots of times before. My dad is a blood scientist and sees a lot of children who have leukemia and childhood cancers. They and their  families sometimes need to get help from Hope House, and they are amazing. They help people through terrible times, and are wonderful! We don't know what we'd do without them.

When mum saw they needed people to do this jump she said, I can do that!! So tomorrow at midday her and the boy are going up, up, up...  then.....Down, down, down....    crazy!! 

BJB: Oh, Dennis, that’s fantastic!! Do you have the link to their donation page, please? 

DENNIS: Yes — it’s right here! 

BJB: What a wonderful thing to do — I hope you’ll talk to me again afterwards, and tell me how it went! 

DENNIS: I will. 

All donations help

(and it’s much less scary than jumping out of a plane!)