'My confidence has grown due to guide dog Isha'

A man who lost his vision in both eyes has credited his guide dog with changing his life, calling her his "best furry friend".

Lee Roberts, 46, from Barnsley, contracted a bacterial infection in 2020 which turned to sepsis, causing sight loss "literally overnight", he said.

After a three-year wait he was matched with labradoodle Isha, with Lee crediting their partnership for enabling him to join classes and learn new skills including ballroom dancing and the martial art jiu-jitsu.

"It's life changing - the independence and how my confidence has grown working with Isha, you just can't explain it, it's unbelievable," Lee said.

Although experiencing sight loss was initally "scary", Lee felt as though the best way to adjust was to "face this head on and just get stuck in".

"I kind of just took it on the chin and got on with it," he explained.

According to Lee, he and three-year-old Isha are a "great fit" for one another.

They have a busy diary of activities planned each week, Lee added, and Isha is recognised and loved by those they meet on their regular routes.

"We're never in, we don't like stopping in the house," he said.

"As you can imagine Isha's got to be worked, so we're out and about every day."

His fitness was impacted by his sight loss, he explained, but since starting jiu-jitsu and dance he said he had the chance to "get my strength and conditioning back".

He previously told the BBC he was inspired to take to the dancefloor because of comedian Chris McCausland's success on Strictly Come Dancing.

Lee's dance teacher Amanda Parker said the positive benefits were mutual.

"This has probably changed Lee's life, as much as it's changed mine, to be honest," she said.

"He comes down, he's made loads of friends. He just embraces everything and will have a go at literally anything."

Isha enjoys the sessions, Amanda added, and enjoys "lots of treats".

Since getting Isha, Lee has walked up the mountain Yr Wyddfa, also known as Snowdon, and completed one of Europe's longest zip lines to raise money for The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.

He aimed to tick off Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis, the remaining peaks in the National Three Peaks challenge, and planned a charity skydive.

Isha has been shortlisted as a finalist for BBC Radio Sheffield's Make a Difference Awards in the animal category, with the winners due to be announced at a ceremony in September.

Now in its fifth year, the event celebrates community heroes nominated by members of the public.

"[Isha] really has changed my life," Lee added.

"She's amazing, she's with me every day. The love is mutual. The companionship that she brings to me - she's my best furry friend."

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