A pet-loving eight-year-old girl from Wombwell has been given a surprise award by Sheffield-based charity Support Dogs for her fundraising and volunteer dog fostering efforts.
Isabelle Lauder raised almost £700 for the charity’s Super Summer Challenge when she climbed the 3,560ft Mount Snowdon just two days after her eighth birthday.
Setting off at 7am on dry, warm day in August, Isabelle and her dad Tom took the tough Crib Goch route up Wales’ highest peak. It took five hours to get up, with lots of physical climbing rather than just walking, but they were fuelled on by plenty of sweets.
Isabelle was inspired by dad Tom who has previously taken part in Support Dogs’ annual abseil and paddle-boarded the 23-mile length of Loch Ness for the charity.
Mum Fran said: “Doing the climb has been really good for Isabelle. She even printed out QR codes and got her teachers to sponsor her. Everybody in school knew about it. I’m very proud of her, and she didn’t seem to have any kind of aches or niggles the day after. A typical eight-year-old, she bounced straight back.”
Fran and Tom have been volunteering as foster carers for Support Dogs since 2022. As foster carers, they look after the charity’s wonder dogs during evenings and weekends, giving them a loving place to rest when they’ve finished their day at ‘school’ in the charity’s training centre.
Support Dogs train specialist autism and epilepsy assistance dogs who are then matched with children and adults to help them live more safely and independently.
The Lauders have looked after loveable Labradors Spot, Buster and Peggy who are now fully qualified autism assistance dogs, as well as recent graduate Frank. They’re currently looking after Stardust, nicknamed Dusty, who is still in training.
To say thank you for her support this year, the charity invited Isabelle and her family to their annual graduation and awards ceremony to see Frank graduate. But she was gobsmacked to hear her name called out for the Young Volunteer of the Year award.
Dad Tom said: “Her face was a picture when her name was announced. She’s taken her trophy into school to show everyone. Isabelle is quite a tenacious girl and really keen to help.”
Could you be a volunteer foster carer? Find out more here or call 0114 2617800.
