Rally drivers Jayne Auden and Amanda Cornforth took some horsepower to Hearing Dogs for Deaf People as they visited the charity’s Beatrice Wright training centre near Selby, North Yorkshire with the rally car ahead of their Jim Clark National Rally fundraising outing on May 25-26.

The pair are raising money for Hearing Dogs and promoting deaf awareness through their sport of rallying with the Hear and Now project by contesting the Jim Clark National Rally, which is based in the Scottish Borders, together.

Auden, from Stockport, is hard of hearing herself but hears through the use of digital hearing aids and it has never held her back from achieving in life.

The 25-year-old, who has been a long supporter of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, will drive her David Auden and Associates Insurance Brokers and 6th Gear PR-backed 1400cc MG ZR while Thirsk-based Cornforth will co-drive on the 100 mile tarmac event.

The crew are aiming to raise £5000 for the charity, which will sponsor a hearing dog throughout its working life, and have already reached just above the £2000 mark with over two weeks to go until the big weekend.

They visited the training centre with the MG ZR rally car where they watched a demonstration by a former rescue dog called Erin, a golden Labrador cross, got an insight into the work that goes on and met trainers, workers and dogs at the centre.

Auden said: “We really enjoyed our day at the centre and seeing the hard work that goes into training these dogs is just amazing. It was really nice to meet some of the people involved with the process as well and see first hand what work goes on.

“We want to raise £5000 or more through our project that will sponsor the partnership between a deaf person and hearing dog throughout its working life. It will make a big difference and we hope that more people and businesses will get behind us in the next two weeks ahead of us doing the rally.”

Cornforth said: “It was great to see the demonstration, it knocked me back at how clever these dogs are and the hard work that goes into something so worthwhile. It was good to get to meet the people involved and the dogs and for me, to learn more about the whole charity, which I think does an amazing job.

“I really hope we can hit the £5000 mark and more. Hearing Dogs make a huge difference to people’s lives and give people back their confidence and boosts their self esteem, it really is a great charity that we’re proud to be supporting.”

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People was set up in June 1982 and is the same age as Cornforth, 25 in the same week! They take dogs from rescue centres, which they then train to alert deaf people to specific sounds. To date they have placed more than 1,300 hearing dogs throughout England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands, changing the lives of many people.

Hearing Dogs receives no government funding and relies solely on the generosity of individuals and organisations in order to keep helping deaf people and unwanted dogs. More than half a million people have profound or severe hearing loss and could potentially benefit from having a hearing dog.

The Jim Clark Rally is round two of the British Rally Championship, the UK’s top series, and round four of the Irish Tarmac Championship. The national rally consists of 100 stage miles using closed public roads in the Scottish Borders over two days, with rally HQ based in Kelso.

If you would like help Jayne and Amanda reach their £5000 target, please email: jayneandamanda@googlemail.com or visit the website: www.hearandnowfundraiser.co.uk. Supporters and businesses that give £100 or more will be shown on the car for the Jim Clark Rally.

You can also donate your money directly via www.justgiving.com/hearandnowfundraising.