EXCITED Brownies are getting together to raise money to support a charity who provide life-changing therapy dogs.

The 2nd Amersham on the Hill Brownies club are holding their annual Brownie Café on Sunday, November 13 at Amersham Free Church, to fundraise for the charity close to their hearts.

The girls, aged between seven and 10, will be in charge of the cafe, selling teas, coffees, running games stalls and selling various Christmas gifts to raise funds for Therapy Dogs Nationwide.

They are partnering with 1st Chesham Bois Brownies in the hope of raising more than £800 to help the national charity with their efforts.

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Brownie leader Juliet Brown explains just how much her dog Marley has helped change people’s lives since becoming a therapy dog, including her daughter Maya.

She said: “Maya was really ill suffering with mental health issues over the last few years and Marley helped her. Dogs don’t judge do they, so when people are feeling sad or upset or depressed and people don’t like to confide in adults as humans will always have an opinion, dogs can just listen and he knows when someone needs a cuddle. There is research that stroking a dog releases endorphins and relieves stress so that’s how he’s helped her when she’s feeling anxious.

“She then wanted him to help other people so I researched how he could do that, and saw TDN and got him assessed and he was very well trained anyway. Their ethos is you use your own dog and they do the assessments to make sure the dogs are suitable.”

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Juliet and Marley visit a care home in Amersham and Stoke Mandeville children’s ward every week bringing smiles to anyone who needs cheering up.

Juliet is currently on a career break from being an NHS hospital manager and explained how Marley helps patients.

“When you go to hospital for small children, teenagers or anyone, it is their worst days of their lives. I never say anything at first I just introduce Marley and he might be with someone for 10 minutes to 30 minutes, they then get chatting as they’re cuddling him.

“Through the pandemic we have all realised the value of animals and how they support us emotionally. Therapy Dogs Nationwide (TDN) is a national charity where visiting volunteers take their own dogs into establishments to provide comfort, distraction, and stimulation.”

Residents who wish to support the fundraiser will get to meet the charities Therapy dogs at the cafe and cuddle them.

A TDN spokesman said: “We really need more therapy dogs in Buckinghamshire. There are care homes and hospital wards that really would like a dog to visit them regularly.

“It is not hard to get into you just need a well trained dog and after a simple assessment TDN will support volunteers to start visiting. So many people in Buckinghamshire have dogs, there must be some that would be suited – and again it is so rewarding.”