A 12-year-old girl from Grimsby is taking on an extraordinary 122-mile challenge to raise funds for Guide Dogs, the charity that has supported her since she began losing her sight.
Aniyah is walking the distance from her home to the Guide Dogs centre in Atherton – where she first met her buddy dog, Spirit. She kicked off the challenge on New Year’s Day with an impressive seven-mile walk along Cleethorpes seafront.
Living with her mums, Lea and Alex, and her three brothers, Aniyah was just 10 when her family first noticed small but worrying changes in her vision.
“Aniyah had always had perfect eyesight but towards the end of 2023, we realised something wasn’t right,” her mum, Lea, explained. “Aniyah would turn the lights on even in bright daylight, but she couldn’t explain why. We went for a routine optician appointment and we were told her left eye wasn’t as it should be and her vision had deteriorated.”
Further hospital tests followed, and Aniyah was eventually given a diagnosis of macular dysfunction – a broad term used to describe changes to the central vision. Over time, her sight has continued to deteriorate, including in her right eye.
“No one could really tell us what was happening or what help we could get,” Lea says. “Aniyah lost a lot of confidence. She started withdrawing, wouldn’t leave the house unless it was for school, and even that was a struggle. She wouldn’t even go upstairs on her own when it was dark.”
After a chance conversation with a Guide Dogs fundraising group in Grimsby at a local supermarket, where volunteers told the family about the charity’s wider support services – including buddy dogs – dogs that are unable to become working guide dogs and instead go on to help children with sight loss build confidence and independence.
“They talked us through everything so clearly over the phone,” Lea said. “The biggest thing was that they cared. For the first time in a long time, we felt listened to.”
Aniyah first met buddy dog Spirit at an open day in Atherton in May 2025. At the time, the family were simply learning more about the Guide Dogs Buddy Dog service, and Spirit was there so that families at the event could meet a dog.
“As soon as Spirit came out, Aniyah lit up,” Lea recalls. “She wouldn’t stop talking about her all the way home. Aniyah is very shy, but she absolutely loves dogs. That day, something changed.”
When Spirit was withdrawn from guide dog training after not taking to the guiding harness, the team carefully considered her temperament and felt she could be a good match for Aniyah. When the family returned for a training day, Spirit was introduced again, and it quickly became clear the pairing was the right one. Spirit and Aniyah were officially matched in September, just weeks after Aniyah started secondary school.
“I honestly didn’t think Aniyah would manage the transition to secondary school,” Lea says. “But Spirit came to us at just the right time and gave her a focus. Everything seemed to fall into place.”
Since Spirit joined the family, the change in Aniyah has been “unbelievable”.
“She still experiences a lot of eye pain, which can be really distressing,” Lea explained. “But because of Spirit, she still tries her best each day to go to school, even if it’s only for a few hours. She’s helped Aniyah mentally in ways we can’t put into words.”
Spirit has also helped Aniyah find her voice in situations that once felt overwhelming – from hospital appointments to busy public places.
“If people ask questions, Spirit helps Aniyah to communicate,” Lea added. “Spirit gives her confidence.”
Aniyah has also begun speaking publicly about her sight loss – something her family say would have felt impossible just months before Spirit arrived. She has already spoken in front of large groups of pupils at her primary school and is preparing to do so again at her current school, marking a huge step forward in her confidence and willingness to share her experiences.
Now, Aniyah is aiming to give back to Guide Dogs while also building her confidence to get out and about. Since starting her challenge on 1st January, she has been walking the equivalent of around four miles a day.
Much of her journey takes place after school and in the dark, making it even more challenging. But where she might once have avoided low-light conditions, Aniyah now navigates confidently thanks to Spirit’s light-up collar and the support of her mums.
“By telling Aniyah’s story, we want to show what children with sight loss can achieve with the right support,” Lea says. “There seems to be a lot out there for adults, but not nearly enough for children. Guide Dogs have been the only people who have truly supported us over the last three years.”
(Image: Guide Dogs)
Part of the Gi Grimsby News team since 2020.