Teenager from Isleworth and her dog to star on national TV

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.”