Elie-Mai Riddick, a 24-year-old forensic psychology student from Bristol, faced a crisis in confidence when her spinal condition left her dependent on walking aids and forced her to pause her degree. Diagnosed with Scheuermann’s Kyphosis at 16 and later with functional neurological disorder, she struggled with balance despite surgery and found it hard to navigate campus alone. Anxiety kept her housebound or reliant on lifts, and she feared she’d never feel safe walking by herself again. Everything changed when National Support Dogs trained her beloved Labrador Bleddyn as a specialist disability assistance dog.
Bleddyn learned to open doors, fetch her phone and walking stick, help with laundry, and even bark for assistance if she falls, giving Elie-Mai a new sense of freedom. With her support dog at her side, she has returned to Bath Spa University and is making progress in her final year. She now pushes beyond her comfort zone, tackling daily tasks that once seemed impossible and regaining hope in her future career. “I’m so grateful to have Bleddyn,” she says, “He’s given me back my independence,” and her story highlights the life-changing bond between support dogs and the people they assist.