A disabled St Albans woman has urged people to vote for the charity that gave her a new lease of life to help them win £25,000.

Sally Richardson, 56, has myalgic encephalopathy/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and is in constant fatigue and debilitating pain.

A charity which trains assistance dogs, Canine Partners, gave Sally a black labrador who helps her with everyday tasks called Dale.

To celebrate the 3,000th anniversary of the Freemasons this year, the organisation are running a community competition where three hundred charities across the UK will receive a share of £3 million, and Canine Partners have been nominated for the Hertfordshire district.

How many votes Canine Partners gets will determine how much money they receive - £25,000 could fund five puppy’s first year of training.

Sally said: “I was suddenly thrust into isolation with a sluggish, oversensitive, painful body and a brain swamped by thick mud.”

A Canine Partners spokesperson said Dale has “brought back [Sally’s] sparkle, spirit, self-confidence and joy for life -something that [her] years of illness had taken away and made daily life such a struggle”.

Anyone can vote before July 31 - click here.