A BRIERLEY Hill assistance dog user is hosting a fundraiser this weekend to give back to the charity which has given her independence.

Demi Shakespeare has cerebral palsy and is bound to her wheelchair, but for the past eight years she has benefitted from black Labrador Bumble, who was given to her by Dogs for Good.

The 23-year-old said: “Life before Bumble was very difficult to what it is now.

“I lacked confidence in myself and felt constantly judged by the outside world and constantly had to ask mum for support if I dropped something.

“This is different now. With bumble by my side I was able to gain my degree in counselling psychology.”

Demi is an active fundraiser for Dogs for Good, a charity which trains assistance dogs to work alongside adults and children with disabilities and autism.

They receive no government funding and rely entirely on donations to help train dogs to assist with tasks such as retrieving a dropped item, opening and closing doors helping to take gloves off.

During the past two years Demi has held small events at her home, including cake sales and raffles, to raise money for the charity.

The first year she raised £800 before increasing her collection to more than £2,500 last year, but this time out she is inviting the public to help raise even more.

On Saturday (August 27), Demi will be holding an event at Quarry Bank Community Centre, in Sheffield Street, from 10am until 5pm.

The free event will feature sandwich and cake sale, raffle, children's games, a face painter and even an opportunity to meet her assistance dog Bumble.

For more information about the charity visit www.dogsforgood.org