THE VOICE of Sarah Williams has been heard in millions of homes.

She is the woman behind Aardman Animations' character Pickles, an animated guide dog in their hit TV series Creature Comforts.

Standing in her kitchen, with a drawing of Pickles signed by creator Nick Park behind her, Sarah, 41, says: "My message as Pickles was to love your family, love your friends, love your animals and love every day because the more you put into life the more you get out."

She certainly puts a lot into her own life.

The walls of the quiet home she shares with her mother in Stoke Bishop is covered with photos of her in several different countries and cuttings from magazines and newspapers in which she has featured.

Her kitchen table is buried under newsletters and schedules for her upcoming trips.

Even though she is blind in one eye, can barely see out of the other, and finds walking very painful, for the past 20 years she has managed to travel the world on a mission to do what she can to help under-privileged children.

"I think it's really important to take risks and come out of your comfort zone," she says.

She has taught braille in the UK, Australia and New Zealand; helped a refugee camp in Yugoslavia, an orphanage in Romania, street children in Nicaragua and a school for Aids orphans in South Africa.

To raise money for her trips, she does public speaking up and down the country and busks with her accordion.

In between playing some tunes on the sofa in her living room, she explains that she also takes her accordion all over the world.

"I play it to all the children and sometimes I leave it with them and buy a new one when I get home," she says.

"Back home I also play at Southmead Hospital on the Stroke and Mental Health wards, and I play to the Salvation Army in Lawrence Hill and at Christchurch Pre-School."

Later this week she is off to the Philippines to work with more street children, and in October she will be crossing the Atlantic from Southampton to Gran Canaria on board a specially adapted tall ship with wheelchair access and a talking compass.

Earlier this year, she spent time in Sri Lanka working with orphans of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, and has since decided to take on an Arctic trek to raise funds for the children there.

With a beaming smile, she says: "I want to raise enough to buy them a tuk tuk to get around in. It's a type of car, sometimes called a rickshaw – a small three-wheeled cart. I want it to be yellow and covered with pictures of Pickles."

She will be doing the trek early next year with the Christian charity Smile International, who she visited Sri Lanka with.

She said: "I am looking forward to the Arctic – I am apprehensive but I do so many things that I think I can do it. We will be there for a week, and I will just do whatever I can manage."

Sarah has Marfan Syndrome, a genetic disorder which has affected her eyes, heart, and joints since she was born.

When she is abroad, she relies on her white cane to get around, but at home she has Ozzie, her guide dog who gives her a lot more independence.

The six-year-old black labrador-retriever cross has recently been highly commended as part of the Guide Dog of the Year Awards 2008, which recognise the work of the UK's guide dogs. Ozzie helps Sarah with her gym training in preparation for all her activities.

Patting an excited Ozzie on the head, she says: "He doesn't mind being surrounded by the machines and people. He is fantastic!"

Not only does Sarah travel the world, but she is a successful sportswoman too.

She spends time with Riding for the Disabled and competes in dressage championships for Great Britain, sails at Chew Valley disabled sailing club, and competes in three national golf tournaments each year – this year she finished fifth at the British Blind Open Golf Championships.

"I have a wonderful life," she says.

"Even though I have got huge disabilities, I get so much joy helping other people.

"It makes me appreciate everything and I am thankful for what I have got.

"It is mostly because of my strong Christian faith – I just really enjoy helping other people."

If you would like to sponsor Sarah's trip to the Arctic, call her on 07779 981 171.