This week I received an email from a well-known owner and breeder in Ireland. The impact of reading the content was immediate and profound. This is a man who is popular, good fun to meet and with a generous heart. He was especially supportive of me last year when I was raising funds for the Irish Cancer Society. I had no idea what he was and is going through.

He wrote that he was heppy to have this article printed and indicated that he was happy to be identified. However I was unable to confirm this with him directly before the deadline and therefore have not named him. It does not lessen the value of his contribution.