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A fundraiser taking part in the Support Dogs abseil last year<\/p>\nNine-year-old Oliver Foster and his sister Isabella, 13, are taking part in a sponsored abseil for the Sheffield-based Support Dogs charity.<\/p>\n
Joining them will be Paul Helliwell, a 65-year-old volunteer puppy socialiser for the good cause, who says he\u2019s not done anything like this since he was lowered out of a helicopter during his territorial army training days over 40 years ago.<\/p>\n
The siblings\u2019 mum, Fiona Foster, is also a volunteer puppy socialiser for Support Dogs, which trains and provides specialist assistance dogs to support children affected by autism, as well as adults with epilepsy or a physical disability.<\/p>\n
A fundraiser taking part in the Support Dogs abseil last year<\/p>\n
The trio are encouraging others to join them as members of \u2018Team Support Dogs\u2019 as they tackle the charity\u2019s fifth annual abseil, braving the 90ft drop from Millers Dale Bridge, on the Peak District\u2019s Monsal Trail, into a narrow gorge below.<\/p>\n
Fiona, a lead quality assurance engineer, said: \u201cOliver went along to a Support Dogs volunteer session with me and the charity\u2019s skydiving day came up.<\/p>\n
\u201cOliver said he wanted to do it, but he\u2019s not old enough and when he heard about the abseil, he wanted to do that and I agreed, so he asked his sister to join him.<\/p>\n
\u201cOliver has discovered an enjoyment of rollercoasters but Isabella isn\u2019t a daredevil by any stretch of the imagination.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really good that they want to be involved and I\u2019m so proud of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Paul Helliwell and Corey<\/p>\n
The family, who live in Mosborough, are currently looking after trainee support dog Newton, a Labrador who turns two in July, and since 2022 have cared full-time for Chuck and Otis, as well as providing temporary holiday cover for Harry, Garry and Danby.<\/p>\n
Fiona added that Newton is a \u201clovely dog\u201d and Oliver, a Mosborough Primary School pupil, and Isabella, who attends Eckington School, \u201cabsolutely adore him and are excited that he\u2019s going to help someone\u201d.<\/p>\n
Paul, a retired IT consultant from Horbury, near Wakefield, and his wife Julie are looking after three-year-old Lab Doris.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Paul is tackling the challenge despite battling back injuries and having had a disc removed from his neck.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cI\u2019ve not done the Support Dogs abseil before but I did have basic military training, including jumping out of a helicopter when I was with the Yorkshire Volunteers regiment of the Territorial Army, from being 16 to 21, so it was a long time ago.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m more apprehensive because of my spinal injuries, but I\u2019ve cleared it with my physio.\u201d<\/p>\n Both Newton and Doris will be there to help cheer on the daredevils.<\/p>\n Also taking part are Katie Williamson, Support Dogs\u2019 community fundraising assistant, and Annabel Love, a client services co-ordinator with the charity.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Katie said: \u201cI\u2019m terrified of heights, but it\u2019s the week I turn 30 so I\u2019ve asked people to sponsor me instead of giving presents, plus it\u2019s all for a fantastic cause.\u201d<\/p>\n There\u2019s still time to sign up to the abseil, which takes place on Saturday, May 17, with time slots between 9am and 5pm.<\/p>\n The minimum age to take part is nine. Find out more at www.supportdogs.org.uk\/abseil25<\/a><\/p>\n To sponsor Oliver and Isabella, please visit www.justgiving.com\/page\/isabellaoliver<\/a><\/p>\n To sponsor Paul, go to: www.justgiving.com\/page\/paul-helliwell-support-dogs<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Obsessed](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/LoveYourPets-SitePromoApp.png\")
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