Arctic 250k Husky Challenge for Meningitis

250k Arctic Husky Challenge to raise money for Meningitis
Daryl takes the lead for Husky 250k Arctic challenge

My Dad (48-year-old Daryl Seeley) is no novice when it comes to dog handling or walking as he runs Harpenden based dog-walking and training company “TakeMyLead” and is also a professional Photographer. Dad decided to use his occupation as the basis for a charity fundraiser and signed up for 2010 Arctic Husky Trek in aid of Meningitis Research Foundation MRF

On 10 – 17th April 2010, Dad will travel to North Norway to spend a week in charge of a sled and team of Huskies ( me and Sophie are soooo jealous that we are not going with him), covering 250km of arctic terrain from the city of Tromso in Norway to the world famous ice hotel in Jukkasjarvi in Lapland. The challenge will push Dad to his limits: he will face severe weather and arctic temperatures down to -30 degrees. He must be self-sufficient for the whole week, carrying everything he needs to survive on his sled. He must also attend to his six strong Husky team, making sure his dogs are fed, watered, happy and healthy.

A life-long dog lover, Dad has defied the credit crunch after having to close his photography studio by making a success of “TakeMyLead”, the dog-walking company with a difference. Based on the premise that us dogs are happiest when interacting with each other in packs, Dad spends all of his time ‘pack walking’ with us and our new dog mates (his clients) in the Harpenden/St Albans area of Hertfordshire. When he saw the Husky challenge and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to take his canine experience to the next level. He’s invested in Nordic ‘Skiks’ (land skis to you or I) to practice his technique and is training hard for the trek with us running along side to keep up the speed.

Dad is trekking to support national charity Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF). As a father and grandfather he realises the importance of supporting a charity which works to eradicate these devastating diseases.

MRF works around the country to fight death and disability from meningitis and septicaemia – the blood poisoning form of the disease. There are nine cases of meningitis in the UK every week resulting in six deaths and leaving survivors with after-effects which can be as severe as brain damage, deafness and amputations. MRF is fighting back – half their expenditure is on scientific research and in their 20 years as a charity they’ve spent almost £16million on research into prevention, detection and treatment of the diseases. MRF also raises awareness of the symptoms of meningitis through a freephone helpline, website and free symptoms awareness literature, and provides support for those affected by the diseases through a telephone befriending programme.

Dad will be blogging on his experiences at www.takemylead.biz where if you’d like to support him you can find a link to his online fundraising page at http://www.justgiving.com/TakeMyLead. MRF has a few places left on the Husky Trek. If you fancy taking up the challenge of a lifetime whilst supporting a worthy cause, visit www.meningitis.org

Meningitis & Septicaemia - Meningitis Research Foundation

•    Meningitis Research Foundation is currently funding 24 research projects into the prevention, detection and treatment of meningitis and septicaemia. The Foundation has spent £15.6 million on research since its inception in 1989.
•    Meningitis Research Foundation operates a Freefone 24 hour helpline – 080 8800 3344 – providing information on meningitis and septicaemia to the general public and health professionals.
•    Information on meningitis and septicaemia is also available on the Foundation’s world-renowned website – www.meningitis.org – in 22 languages. An interpretation service in 150 languages is available through the 24-hour helpline.
•    The Foundation offers support for those affected by meningitis and septicaemia. Trained helpline staff are available 365 days a year. A befriender service links people with experience of meningitis and septicaemia to share their experiences.

Please sponsor my dad's 2010 Husky Arctic Challenge

Hi guys, sorry we haven’t been around lately but me and Daryl have been very busy setting up the new business.

NEWS!

On June 13th 2009 and at 48 Daryl learns to skate. On day 2 of receiving his new EA7 skates from Ebay, Daryl decided to give George, Sophie, Chewbacca and DJ a test run on his EA7 Skopian roller skates (following an 90 minute walk for his everyones safety). Daryl is now Harpenden’s answer to the dog whisper – aka SeaSaw Me Lawn (The Dog Wee Sprayer) lol

Here is an example of one of my dog walks. All the dogs have lots of fun and exercise in the country and the woods and enjoy running, jumping and swimming as part of their daily exercise. There’s no street walking on leads, just good old fashioned pack behaviour to stimulate the mind and body of your best friend.

Remember that although dogs love humans they are social creatures of spirit and need to be with their own species.

Maddie was one of Edwoods customers on his dog walking venture. She only went walking a few days a week with him and only for a short time before she departed. Rest assured she left for the bridge as a very much loved lady and one who was very loved by her hoomans and was fulfilled by her walks with the pack.

Here she is with Ruby, having one of her unique mid way rests.

When Maddie needed to rest, the whole pack had to rest, even Edwood, the pack leader rested with her.

She will be deeply missed by all. Run free at the bridge Maddie…..

My pawrents took off all the dressings to let the air get to my injury. I had secondry injurys from the dressings you see, my dew claw rubbed into my leg making more complications.

Edwood let me off my lead one night and when I came back I had taken off my space boot and my dressings. I was trying to tell them that I’d be good and not lick it and that they should trust me and let me have some air to my paw.

This said, I am now nearly healed.

Before I showed them what needed to be done, they took me and Skinny to Ashridge Woods and I got my space boot all muddy.

Business is poor right now and Edwood has been economically forced to shut the studio. This may be bad for the hoomans but it means that Saturday is now a day off for both of my hoomans, which means me and Skinny may get to do things with them, like our visit to new woods.

Pooky, put the windmill back, we can’t take it home.

So everydog, when my pawrents have finished the feng shui of clearing the loft and have finally moved the studio and office home, I should be back to blogging. I’ve got a big anniversary coming up, it’s the first anniversary of my gotcha day at the end of the month, I’m hoping they’ll be all settled and will celebrate my year of being with them. 

We heard that 22nd March was the day to celebrate Mothers. As a gratitude to pooky who has been a great Mum to us in our re homing to a new family, we found her a really nice stick.

I actually am not a keen stick obsessive, us Rotties are thinkers and quite phiIosophical, I don’t mind running after one or two and neither does Sophie. Sophie’s been hanging out with the Labrador customers, of which some love a stick to chew, attracting Sophies interest and her idea that Mummy Pook would like one too. I secretly think that we should send our stick to Canada to Chef for his stick pile????

I’m sure this will go down well as a present though, Pooky really loves us, along with a bottle of bubbles and us advocating Daddy Edwood to cook a sunday roast. We will be the best dogs today and not make a mess for Pooky to clean up, I’ll not be drawn to my sock or dressing and we’ll play real nice.

We love you Pooky! (enjoy your roast dinner)

George

The good news is, I didn’t have to have another operation, my dewey was looking better and my paw paw is healing a treat!! I was so tired and exhausted from it all I just laid my head on Pooks shoulder whilst Sophie checked out my new bandage.

Thank you to everydog that has sent me Airezen, Puggie kissies and has said nice prayers for me, I am finally on the mend…whoo hooo. Special thanks to my little friend Clover who mentioned me on her blog and sent some new buddies over to send some Healing Love.

Since Monday I have had regular lead walks on the extendy, although my pawrents don’t like the extendy as they are a bit dangerous but the horse lead drags through unpicked poopies, I guess we all do those ones that disappear when the hoomans come to pick it. My hoomans occassionally do a poopie karma when that happens and pick up some other dogs unpicked one instead.

Anyway, enough poopie talk, I’m sounding like the hoomans who are always so concerned about how the poopie is…

Today I was let off my lead to walk nice with one of Dad’s customers and Sophie. I didn’t run about, as instructed by Daddy Edwood and guess what, I met some of my breed.

This is Henry, Me and Honey with their hooman. Henry loves Sophie but can’t keep up with her, unlike me who can catch her, but can’t show off yet. In fact, I noticed something different about Sophie today, she is less dependant on me and does her own thing on walks and doesn’t bodyslam me anymore. Pooky says that in the bigger picture of life, my paw paw has had some positive outcome.

It’s nearly my 1st gotcha day anniversay and I’m hoping to be back on all four paws and running around to celebrate.

Thanks again everydog!!

George

 Well my recovery is not going too well….

I went to see the V. E. T on Monday and had to stay for another anaesthetic. As you know, some of my stitches disappeared and I spent the week in Sock & Space Booty. The cut is so deep and it has to heal from the inside before the outside should heal. They put me into that deep deep sleep where you feel no pain and stitched me up again.

 I came home feeling a bit sorry for myself so Sophie kept me company.

She kept a close eye on my paw.

It’s been a tough week, Edwood had to go and fetch pain killers as the stitches are sOoOO tight it hurts and I couldn’t weight bear.

I returned to the V. E. T on Thursday and it seems I’m healing okay. The V. E. T gave me a red bandage for red Nose Day 2009. The bad news is: Pooky noticed me licking my dew claw when I was doing Sock & Space Booty time. She thought it was looking wierd but Edwood reassured her that the fur had rubbed off, probably had got caught on my sockie. Well the V. E. T I saw on Thursday noticed that my dew claw is damaged, he put a stitch in that too and said it needs removing. I’m not sure what’s going on but Pooky thinks that I probably damaged it when I cut my paw but because the paw was sOOoo dramatic, no one noticed my dewey. So, I’m in for more deep sleep on Monday and maybe a different coloured bandage??? I predict already that I will not be running around just yet.

Something nice happened though, Pooky had a birthday that I missed blogging about. We hid some presents at Sten’s house for her….in the bathroom… BOL

Now these edibles I am sure will be better for me than you Pooky.

Sophie was more interested in watching the video’s on Dad’s dog walking site, Only ‘cos she’s rubbing it in my face ‘cos I haven’t met the customers yet and she gets to run with them every day…..

Send me all your recovery vibes on Monday everydog!

I’ve got the Space Boot on and ready to go for a lead walk…yipee, peemail here I come!

George

Click here to see Edwood’s tribute

On the 10th March 2008, our boy Reg departed for the Rainbow Bridge. One year on, run free Reg.

George has already very kindly let us put a tribute to Scooby’s anniversary on his blog and quite frankly after another anastetic and more stitches on his paw paw isn’t really in the mood for debate.

Reg was our first Rottie and was the ambassador of his breed that George’s rehabilitation is aiming for.

Reg was rehomed to us at nearly 2 years old. He was the perfect dog (I know you’re all pretty perfect too pups, but in pawrents eyes, each of you is The BEST).

Reg was never castrated and kept a fine figure and had no arthritis until his very late days. The repercussion of not being castrated meant he ran the risk of testicular problems and he developed prostrate trouble in his latter years.

 One year ago today at the good age of 12.5 our hearts broke as we decided to let him go to the bridge. Although our hearts were broken, George came along to fill the gap. Reg is forever in our hearts and there’s not a day that goes by that he’s not thought about or George is called Reg. Some of you know that I do Reiki and other healing work and I am delighted that when I do distant healing treatments, our darlings Reg and Scoob’s spirit visit my healing circle. They are never far away.

This is Scooby, young Edwood and Reg in the field where Reg and Scoob’s ashes are.

The benefit of being senior and unwell is that you get to chill out on the Pack Leaders bed.

In memory of such a wonderful boy, here’s his tribute that we had when we scattered his ashes with Scoobs.

I couldn’t find the pictures that were in the memorial, but here’s our readings….

We discovered last Sunday that George’s wound was open. He was due at the V. E. Ts on monday and was a very brave soldier as the V. E. T took out the remaining stitches. It seemed that the disolvable stitches had gone, leaving the thick beasts.

He returned home with some antibiotic cream, more antibiotics and adorning a lovely silver booty. He’s due back this Monday to see how it’s healing and if more stitches are needed.

So in the mean time it’s funky socks.

Silver Booty and more rest.

Our dear friend Inga (Auntie Inkie or Nanna as George calls her) came round on Tuesday. When the dogs visit her she always gives them pate on toast as a little treat. To cheer bored George up, she brought her treat with her.

George even licked the bowl clean.

George has been out for a couple of short lead walks but really is confined to rest. He’s doing very well resting, considering he loves to run and has missed his fun for a few weeks. I’m predicting a few more weeks of this as the cut is really deep and runs the length of his big paw.

As you can imagine, it’s difficult for George to type and we’ve been a bit busy to help him but we’ll try and catch up on your blogs real soon, George misses you all.

Pooky.