Swimming with dogs in Oxfordshire offers relief for people living with MND
Challenging MND hosts therapeutic swim ahead of MND Awareness Day
People living with Motor Neurone Disease in Oxfordshire have taken part in a swimming session with specially trained therapy dogs to mark Global MND Awareness Day.
Organised by the charity, Challenging MND, the event allowed participants to swim alongside Newfoundland's, dogs known for their strength, gentle nature and use in water-based therapy. These dogs were also featured in the 'Underdog to Superdog' series with Alan Titchmarsh.
Liana Isles, Chief Executive of the charity, says the experience provides much more than just a fun activity:
"A lot of people find water to be very cathartic, so in a safe environment, it's a very liberating experience for someone who's perhaps been stuck in a wheelchair for a number of years."
Motor Neurone Disease affects 1 in 300 people and gradually strips away the ability to move and speak.
This swimming event therefore highlights the importance of finding moments of joy and dignity amid the daily challenges of MND.