Have you got a special cuddly toy you've had since you were little? Perhaps it's a teddy bear, maybe a doll, even something a little more exotic like a monkey or a giraffe! Many people keep their childhood toys for sentimental reasons - but sometimes they remind you of something much deeper... Toni Cowans from Hanley has kept her cuddly dog Luke with her as long as she can remember. For her, he is the one reminder of her best friend Luke, who died of leukaemia when he was just 5. She named her toy Luke to remind her of her friend, and through all her good and bad times, Toni has turned to her cuddly Golden Labrador for comfort, and he remains her constant companion...
 听 >
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Toni lives at the Hanley YMCA, where she acts as a mentor for new residents. When 大象传媒 Radio Stoke ran a series of creative writing workshops there with poet John Lindley, Toni came up with a poem imagining what Luke would be thinking if he came to life... MY FRIEND LUKE I love the feeling of freedom
That gushes through me
As I run through an open field
My legs going as fast as they can
The wind going through each strand of my golden fur coat
Makes me feel so alive As I turn to wait for my owner to catch up with me
I sit and take in the beautiful view of fields surrounding me
As she comes closer
I catch a glimpse of something sparkly in the corner of my eye
I dart off in that direction to find out what it is As I get closer, I realise what it is
My legs go faster
And in the background I can hear my protector
Shouting 'No Luke. No!'
But I pretend I don't hear her And splash!
The water separates as I enter
I dive out as she gets near
I shake from head to toe | 
