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Teenager from Isleworth and her dog to star on national TV

7th June 2013

The life-changing bond between a 14 year-old from Isleworth and her dog, Giles, will melt the nation’s hearts this weekend.

14 year-old Natasha Settelen, who has cerebral palsy, her dog, Giles, and the charity, Dogs for the Disabled, will be in the spotlight on ‘The National Lottery: In It to Win It’ on BBC One from 8.20pm on Saturday 8 June.

Giles is the latest ‘National Lottery Hero’ in a series of films on charities changing lives with National Lottery funding. National Lottery players raise over £35 million a week for good causes, such as Dogs for the Disabled, which has received almost half a million pounds in funding.

Natasha says Giles has made a big difference to her life:

“My mum applied to Dogs for the Disabled for a dog to help me around the house and to be my best friend. When I heard about Giles it was a dream come true. Now Giles fetches my sticks, even from another room, and carries a bag of my belongings upstairs for me. He picks up things I’ve dropped, opens doors for me using a rope and pulls off my socks, trousers, jumpers and tops. Giles comes to my football practice and likes to join in! I now love going for walks which I didn’t before.

“Giles has given me more confidence in public. He is a conversation starter with people. I love coming home from school as he has such a lovely greeting. I don’t have to ask my parents for help so much as I am more independent.”

Dogs for the Disabled’s Chief Executive Peter Gorbing says: “Natasha is one of many children and adults to benefit from the National Lottery’s support of our work. Everyone we help tells an emotional story about the life-changing effect of our dogs. We’re hugely grateful to National Lottery players for helping us transform the lives of people we support.”

Notes to editors

For more information please call Michael Thompson at The National Lottery Good Causes on 020 7211 3894