Follow Mike Brace and guide dog Izzy’s new life together by phonecast

Mike Brace, Chief Executive of Vision 2020 UK, and his guide dog Izzy have now started their new life together and their training - and Mike continues to phonecast at http://www.ipadio.com/phlogs/MikeBrace/

Mike tells how Labrador-retriever Izzy arrived at his home on Saturday September 4th and settled in - devouring her first meal in seconds like a hoover!

And Mike then explains how their first training is successful and Izzy enables him to walk faster than he normally might - and that the only time when there is any issue is when he mixes up his commands to Izzy.

Mike is a former Chairman of the British Paralympic Association. He was blinded in a firework accident at the age of 10 and he met his first ever guide dog, Izzy, on Tuesday August 17^th.

Mike explained previously how he was encouraged when at school to become very proficient in the use of his cane and had always considered getting a guide dog as a “bridge too far.”

Now though, Mike has found that there are routes he would like to undertake, such as to a gym and through the park, that he might like to have a guide dog for - so he applied and was accepted for a guide dog for the first time.

Mike lives in Hornchurch, Essex. He has never let his disability get in the way of his passion for sport and over the last 40 years he has taken part in more than 50 different sports, ranging from surfing to sailing and skiing to cricket. His many sporting achievements including completing two London Marathons, two ski marathons and the 125-mile Devizes to Westminster Canoe Marathon.

He first represented Great Britain at cross-country skiing in the first Winter Paralympic Games in 1976, and he then went on to represent his country at three World Championships, six Paralympic Games and two European Championships.