A devoted big brother is preparing to run his first London Marathon to express gratitude to the charity that transformed his family's life. Ashley Welsford will take on the famous challenge on April 26, 2026, to raise money for the national charity Support Dogs. The charity matched his younger brother, Alex Duthie, with a special Labrador named Chester when Alex was just six years old.
Before Chester arrived, Alex was non-verbal and found it extremely difficult to leave his home in South Milford. The remarkable dog helped Alex learn to speak and gave him the confidence to explore the outside world safely. Ashley, who works as an electrician, has witnessed how much the pair's bond has improved his brother's daily life.
Ashley said, “I saw firsthand how much Chester improved Alex’s quality of life. He helped him navigate the world, which was much harder for Alex than other little boys. He gave him a safety net, which allowed him to go out and explore new things, which may not have been possible without his support dog.”
Vital Support for the Whole Family
The assistance dog also provided a huge sense of relief for Alex’s parents, Anna and Adrian. Because Alex had no sense of danger, being near traffic or water was previously a major worry for the family. Ashley said: “Chester gave them an extra set of eyes, which were always on Alex! My dad would often work in London too, and having Chester gave Anna the confidence to take Alex out and about on days out, removing any worries as they knew Chester was on hand to make sure Alex was safe.”
Chester has spent 10 years by Alex's side and has recently retired, staying with the family as a much-loved pet. Now that Alex is 14, his older brother wants to help another child find their own four-legged best friend.
Fundraising to Support Training Programs
Ashley has already raised more than £2,000 toward his fundraising goal to support the charity's training programs. Anna said: “We’re not sure where we would be without Chester and the incredible help we received from Support Dogs. We’re so proud of Ashley taking on this challenge. It hasn’t been easy, but Ashley has seen how much Chester has helped all of us over the years and is excited to give something back.”
Support Dogs trains specialist animals to help people living with autism, epilepsy, or physical disabilities. The whole family is cheering Ashley on as he enters the final stages of his marathon training. Anyone wishing to sponsor Ashley can do so via his fundraising page. To find out more about the incredible work of Support Dogs, please visit www.supportdogs.org.uk or call 0114 2617800.
