A TAUNTON woman is doing her bit to raise awareness and money for a charity that trains dogs that help deaf people leave loneliness behind.

34-year-old Katie Horsey is halfway through a challenge that will see her create 28 crocheted animals after she decided to take on the Hearing Dogs for Deaf People’s February fundraiser – the 28 Challenge.

The charity challenge asks people to raise money and awareness by completing a 28-related challenge.

This could be running 28 miles – or in Katie’s case, creating 28 crocheted animals.

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Any money generated from selling the crocheted animals will go directly to the charity, and she has set up a fundraising page for people to support the cause.

She said she was inspired to take on the challenge after witnessing the way deafness impacted both her husband and her mother-in-law.

“I saw the 28 Challenge as an opportunity to do something I love, while at the same time raise funds and awareness for a cause that’s close to my heart,” she said.

“My husband has been deaf since birth. He’s had multiple operations and now, if he doesn’t have his hearing aids in, he doesn’t hear anything.

“If we’re in a group, he goes very quiet because he can’t differentiate between background noise and people talking.

Katie has so far raised £190 just from online donations Picture: Hearing Dogs for Deaf People

“Lockdown was particularly difficult for him. He relies a lot on lipreading and when we were all wearing masks, it was really isolating for him. Even everyday things like going food shopping can be stressful.”

Katie’s passion for raising awareness of deafness is further fuelled by the couple’s plans to undergo fertility treatment.

“We’re starting fertility treatment soon, and we don’t know whether our children will be hearing or deaf”, Katie said.

“That’s one of the reasons I’m so determined to raise awareness about the challenges of living with deafness.

“It’s not something people fully understand unless they live with it themselves.”

Hundreds of people took part in the Hearing Dogs for Deaf People 28 Challenge last year, with more than £30,000 raised to help change the lives of deaf people across the UK.

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People is a national charity that trains dogs that help deaf people reconnect with life.

The dogs do this through constant companionship and emotional support, giving deaf people the confidence to reconnect with their family, friends and community around them.

Just as importantly, they help by alerting deaf people to important and life-saving sounds like the smoke alarm, alarm clock and oven timers.

To support Katie’s challenge, visit her JustGiving page by clicking here.