A GUIDE dog owner from Henllan has taken part in a climbing challenge with a difference.

Louise Jenkins,who is blind in one eye and has tunnel vision in the other, repeatedly scaled a 35ft wall at the Beacon Centre in Caernarfon to raise £459 for Guide Dogs Cymru.

She was part of a 15-strong team, all registered blind or wearing blindfolds for the duration of the challenge. Guided solely by vocal commands, they scaled a total of 3,560ft – the height of Snowdon.

Louise, named Inspirational Guide Dog Owner of the Year by viewers of ITV’s This Morning earlier this year, said: “This is something I haven’t done before and it was a brilliant experience.

“There were four of us climbing at the same time and we had sighted guides telling us where to put our hands and feet, so it got very noisy.

“I put on a pair of Labrador ears and went up and down nine times. My guide dog Trinity was watching from the ground, and she got a bit anxious at the sight of me so high up. When I finished, she was jumping up at me as if to say, ‘Don’t do it again’.”

Louise was in action again the following day, taking part in a 10K run at the National Botanical Gardens with the help of a guide runner. She now plans to run the Llanelli half marathon in February in aid of Guide Dogs Cymru.

It will be the latest in a number of challenges, which include a blind drive, a zip wire ride and a Boxing Day swim. “I do things now because I can,” she said. “I don’t want sight loss to limit what I can do.”

To sponsor Louise and help Guide Dogs, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/ceredigionguidedogs1046