Finding strength, purpose and a best friend.

Thanks to supporters like you, Ethan is embracing life with confidence, purpose and a very special companion by his side.

Thanks to the support of people like you, Ethan is embracing life with curiosity, confidence and a very special companion by his side.

Shortly after his 21st birthday, Ethan celebrated an important milestone when he was matched with Guide Dog Jack. “He was the best 21st birthday present I could have imagined,” he says about his new best friend.

The lovable yellow Labrador quickly became much more than a mobility aid. Together, they head off to university, explore new places and take on everyday adventures. And when Ethan is having a tough day, Jack somehow always seems to know.

“I’ll lie on the floor and Jack will come and lie on me. They’re such healers,” Ethan says. Such a good boy, Jack.

Jack’s calm nature has a remarkable way of putting people at ease. Ethan has seen classmates, strangers and even people carrying difficult experiences find comfort in spending just a few moments with his four-legged best mate.

At 21 years old, he’s studying history, culture and kapa haka at university. Culture is a big part of Ethan’s life and something he’s deeply proud of. “Ask your whānau about your iwi. That’s where your strength is,” he says.

One of Ethan’s proudest achievements so far has been earning a place on a National Kapa Haka competition team. “People didn’t think I’d make it, but I proved them wrong,” he says happily.

Born with Septo-Optic Dysplasia, Ethan has very limited vision. Or, as he puts it, “terrible”. Fortunately, his parents connected with Blind Low Vision NZ when he was still a baby, helping him access the skills, support and confidence he continues to draw on today.

And confidence he has in bucketloads, thanks to the encouragement of his family who taught him early on not to let other people’s expectations define him. “They taught me to have a go,” he says, an attitude he’s carried with him wherever he goes.

Thanks to Jack, that confidence just continues to grow. Recently, Ethan found himself hopping on a bus to explore somewhere completely new, simply because he knew Jack had his back. He’s also planning more adventures, proving just how much freedom and independence this partnership has brought him.

These days, Ethan is busy with university, kapa haka, friends, whānau and life with Jack by his side. Together, they’re looking forward to all the adventures still to come and we can’t wait to hear about what they get up to next.

Thanks to kind supporters like you, more young people can access the support, skills and life-changing partnerships that help Kiwi like Ethan live life their way, while training future Guide Dogs like Jack.