Spaniel Milly might not be able to see where she’s going, but that’s not going to stop her and owner Johnny Paterson from embarking on a 10 mile sponsored walk next weekend.

The pair, from Barking, will be walking part of the Active8 Thames Run on Saturday, December 13 to raise money for Cancer Research.

Milly has not let her disability hold her back, using her sense of smell and hearing to get by.

“As she is blind, I have spoken to her much more than I would normally speak to a dog, and so she has learned many more words than normal,” said Johnny.

“If I mention a haircut, or snip scissors in the air, she skulks off. If I mention the kettle, or ask someone if they want a cup of tea, she will go into the kitchen.”

Milly is usually found by Johnny’s side, going almost everywhere together and remaining full of character.

She also has a heart murmur and has to take rests when running around the park, where she loves to have a ball or a stick thrown for her.

Johnny added: “When we’re in a vehicle and start to slow down, she will sniff the air vents in the dashboard to tell where we are.

“If we’ve been there before, she will remember, and will often lead me when we get out.

“She can differentiate between the sounds of car and van keys, and then sniff out the right vehicle in the car-park.”

To sponsor Johnny and Milly, visit justgiving.com/Johnny-Paterson