Cambrian Rotary Club has taken up the cause of a young Oswestry woman looking to secure the services of a vital assistance dog to help her day-to-day life.

Elin Jones, who lives in independent living at Woodside Court, is 29 years old and has cerebral palsy, is looking to raise the funds she needs to gain the services of Oakley, a puppy that has been reserved for her.

While Oakley would not replace the care Elin needs, it would provide her with more confidence to go out in the community and give her more opportunities to socialise.

Elin suffers from severe anxiety, among other issues, and feels an assistance dog would greatly help her where her complex care needs team cannot.

She thanked the Cambrian Rotary Club for their help in kick-starting her appeal.

“I want to thank the Cambrian Rotary Club and Mike Lade – they have helped me with other things in the past,” she said.

“They’re an asset to the community and I’m a thankful for their help.

“I’m a student at Wolverhampton College – even if Oakley doesn’t make it through the 18 months training he needs to be an assistance dog, he will still be a pet therapy dog for me.

“He will still be an asset to the community.

“We’re at the start of our fundraising so we’re urging as many people to help me as possible.”

The Cambrian Rotary Club is looking to raise £2,500 to secure Oakley for Elin, and then will change their target for training the puppy once they have reached their target.

Mike believes that Elin’s cause is very much a worthy one, having worked with her before, and hopes people can get behind her.

“If any local businesses could also help her, that would be great,” he said.

“I know Elin from a past Rotary project to re-decorate her new flat before to took it over as a ‘one-hour makeover challenge’.

“She is a deserving case and it would make so much difference to her daily life and her mental welfare.”

Anyone wishing to donate to Elin’s fundraising can do so here: www.gofundme.com/f/assistance-dog-for-elin?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=p_na+share-sheet&rcid=41e388fa646040f4bdfbbe2f5e2b67de

The deadline for raising the money is the end of March as the puppy is reserved until April.