Donkey therapy for owner's cancer

A donkey from Llanelli, crowned the best in Britain, helped transform the life of his owner after he was diagnosed with cancer. Mike Thomas decided to run donkey rides on the local beach to ensure he kept fit following his illness.

One of his animals, Dennis, has now won the prestigious Britain's Best Donkey of 2007 award. Mr Thomas had previously entered Dennis' mother Bella in the competition but this was the first year he felt Dennis was ready to compete.

Mr Thomas said: "Dennis has got the right looks and the right temperament. He enjoys his work."

The 44-year-old from Kidwelly started his donkey business in Llanelli in Easter 2006. "I was diagnosed with lymph gland cancer in 2000," he said. "My boy Rhys had always wanted a donkey and I didn't know what the future held, so I bought one.

I had done the same job for 20 years working as a heavy plant operator in a quarry, sitting down all day. My doctor told me I needed plenty of exercise and I had to change the way I lived. So the donkey business went from there. Now I love what I do."

Working here is a bit like therapy to me and, touch wood, it seems to have kept the cancer at bay."

Trips to London

Father-of-two Mr Thomas, who has 20 donkeys which he looks after and rents out to people, runs rides on the beach during the summer and takes the animals to carnivals, old people's homes and children's parties during the rest of the year.

He even goes to London to show Dennis to children in inner-city areas.

"You can't depend on them working on the beach," said Mr Thomas. "A lot of beaches don't have donkey rides because the young kids don't want to do it anymore."

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Contact Mike on 07779 692092 for more information

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