Those of you who know me well, will know I am more likely to be found eating chocolate and watching X-factor reruns on a Sunday morning then out jogging. But on Sunday 6th December that will all change as I take to Greenwich Park and join 2000 other people in donning a Santa Suit and running 5K. I will even go one step further and put on an inflattable donkey suit to make it a little more challenging!
"Why would you do this to yourself?!" you may ask...well I work for a charity called the Brooke which is the UK's leading equine welfare charity helping to improve the lives of working horses, donkeys and mules overseas. These animals carry the bricks in brick kilns, pull heavy carts to markets and transport owners and tourists around cities. They work for as long as they can stand, day in day out - there are no days off, no stables to rest in and often very little food and water for these animals. Their owners rely on them to remain healthy so that they can continue to work and provide what is often the only income for the family to live on.
The Brooke provides treatment to the animals and advice and education to the owners in 10 countries across the world. It currently reaches over 730,000 animals every year and aims to increase this to 2 million by 2016 - quite some ambition I am sure you will agree! For every animal we help, you can be sure their is a family that rely's on it and who will benefit from a healthier and happier animal that can continue to work.
So the pain of getting up with a hangover on a sunday morning and running 5K will be nothing compared to what these animals and their poor owners go through each and every day.
Anything you can give will be gratefully appreciated.
From me and the Donkeys - Thank you!!
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