A YEAR of excitement, enthusiasm, energy and emotion has passed, as two Farnham sisters, Allie and Ciarran Minns, complete a year-long fundraiser with a grand total of £5,062.

The sisters’ hard work and dedication, in memory of their father Bill who passed way after suffering an aneurysm, has meant that both Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and Action on Hearing Loss have benefited from more than £2,500 each, to support people with hearing loss.

Since October 1, 2015, Allie and Ciarran have completed four active challenges each - together they conquered 1,000 steps of the Heron Tower last December and a 70km, 20-hour continuous walk along the South Coast.

Alone Allie completed a five-kilometre run around Dorney Lake, in Buckinghamshire and embraced her vertigo abseiling down the Emirates Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth.

Ciarran took on a firewalk and having had to replace her third challenge due to injury, she swam 7.5km on the final day of the challenge.

The girls have been overwhelmed by the support of friends, family, strangers and local businesses who have helped them along their road.

The biggest challenge was the 100km walk, where they retired from foot and knee injuries at 70km.

Through social media, people spurred them on with motivating messages, many regarding how they have experienced, or are experiencing hearing loss and how great it is that the girl’s were creating so much awareness for it.

A Year To Hear was all about creating awareness, so people don’t have to suffer in silence or feel there is no help out there, like Bill did growing up and even when he died in 1996, there seemed to be little support.

“It’s not that they ignore you or need to be yelled at, it’s a simple case of raising your voice and trying to be in a position where they can see your mouth to lipread – something everyone does subconsciously,” said Ciarran.

“If we have helped just a few people cope with hearing loss or learn how to help those with a loss, then the campaign is a success.

“Not to mention all the money raised will help to train new hearing dog puppies, and support 11 million people in the UK with hearing loss, tinnitus and deafness.

“A few big thank yous need to be given out to our especially generous donors, Mark at A1 Bathrooms and Kitchens, and to Sam and Chris at SMS International Shore Operations in London.

“Both supported A Year to Hear hugely towards it’s final goal. Many local businesses and of course local people supported the campaign throughout, we were overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity shown.”

To donate visit the girls online at www.justgiving.com/ayeartohear and/or www.justgiv

ing.com/allieandciarran.