A VISUALLY impaired woman from Romsey has shaved her head for charity and raised almost £2,000 in the process.

Nicky West, a guide dog owner and member of staff at Guide Dogs, set herself the challenge in honour of the charity’s 90th birthday.

“I am registered blind and Lily is my fifth guide dog. I wanted to contribute to raising awareness and donations for this amazing charity, as Guide Dogs has been transforming lives for 90 years, including mine.”

Nicky has been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and her guide dog Lily has been central in supporting her to get out and about.

“This past year has been particularly challenging for me. I am considered extremely clinically vulnerable due to a rare autoimmune disease.

“I have been shielding for a large part of the past year and working from home. There have been many days where I have just wanted to wrap myself up in a blanket and shut the world out. Lily has been my reason to keep going.

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“She has looked after my physical health (we have walked 10,000 steps each day) and she has looked after my mental wellbeing, just by being her and keeping me going.

“Lily has transformed my life in more ways than she realises and I want to say thank you to her and Guide Dogs. Thank you for giving me the most amazing guide dog but also for giving me a dog with lots of personality, sensitivity, love and friendship.”

There are around 2 million people living with sight loss in the UK. Guide Dogs supports those with a visual impairment through advice and support, as well as the iconic guide dog service.

An incredible 36,000 lives have been transformed through a guide dog partnership since the charity's humble beginnings in a Merseyside garage in 1931.