Multi-sport challenge for guide dog owner
A guide dog owner from Anglesey has marked her 50th birthday year with a four-part sporting challenge.
Rhiannon Tudor Edwards, professor of health economics at Bangor University, decided to row, ride, walk and cycle a total of 50 miles to raise money for Guide Dogs Cymru, and has already raised £1,400.
Rhiannon, a mother-of-two, has personal experience of sight loss due to retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye condition. She had her first guide dog, Vikki, in 2002, and is currently the owner of her second dog, black Labrador Jazz.
Rhiannon said: “I turned 50 on December 30, and thought instead of a party, I would set myself some challenges.
“I had the opportunity, through Beaumaris Rowing Club, to take part in the Great River Race up the Thames on September 3. That’s three hours, 23 bridges and 22 miles!
“I thought I would bring the distance up to 50 to match my age, by adding a 14-mile walk, a seven-mile horse ride and seven miles on the back of a tandem.”
Rhiannon has already raised £1,400 for Guide Dogs Cymru.
“You have to appreciate the difference that a guide dog can make to the life of someone who is experiencing sight loss,” she said.
“Not only does the dog act as your eyes, helping you to navigate, but it breaks down barriers with fully sighted people, and helps with the difficult process of adjustment to sight loss.”
Rhiannon was accompanied on the Thames by her 17-year-old daughter, Non, who has also been in training.
“It was a really special summer,” said Rhiannon. “I’ve made such a lot of friends since joining Beaumaris Rowing Club.
“Rowing is brilliant for visually impaired people, because you are going backwards! Sadly, there’s no room for your guide dog in the boat.
“You have to row in time, which can be quite a visual thing, so I do it by listening or counting. Our secret was to stick jelly babies to the bench for a sugar hit when we got tired.” She said rowing 22 miles on the Thames was a wonderful experience, but daunting at the start.
“There were about 350 boats all trying not to collide,” she said. “I could hear Big Ben strike 2pm as we passed the Houses of Parliament and the whoops and echoes of rowers and supporters as we passed under each bridge.”
Part two of the challenge was a 14-mile walk with family and friends on November 7, taking in Newborough Forest.
“It was too big a distance for Jazz, but she did the last 3.5 miles with me,” said Rhiannon.
On Sunday and Monday, December 18 and 19, with the help of friends, Rhiannon rode her elderly Welsh cob pony, Cariad, seven miles around Llanddona, followed by a seven-mile tandem ride along the cycle path at Malltraeth.
“The tandem was a new experience for me. I’ve never moved so fast,” said Rhiannon.
“But if you lose your sight and can’t do the things you used to do, why not try something new?”