We did it!

Bright and early (well, early anyway) on Sunday morning, Johnny and I drove over to Warrington, picked up our other team members and made our way to Sefton Park.  The sun was shining and hundreds of people were warming up in an array of coloured shirts, egged on by a very Scottish man with an impressive microphone. The only thing missing was a hot dog stand! 

We got into our starting position with rumbling tummies and Johnny's tail firmly between his legs - he's petrified of other dogs and he'd spotted two fluffy ones... However, once we got started he soon got into his stride, until he decided to do a huge poop, so we were delayed clearing that as the last of the runners retreated into the park.  We caught up and got to the 4km mark relatively uneventfully - when Johnny quite firmly decided he wanted to take a short cut to the end!  Typical greyhound.  We persuaded him to walk the remaining 1km, egged on by a little boy in a push chair who was also in the race, shouting 'doggy!'

We finished the race in a total of 50 minutes to applause and a special mention by the Scottish man over the PA system.  We were all out of puff - apart from Johnny - and made our way, armed with goodie bags and medals, to find our breakfast.

Well done Johnny - with Gift AId, we've raised around £340 for Tia and raised the profile of greyhounds in sunny Merseyside too.  A massive thank you to my little bruv Gareth and his girlfriend Annette for taking part, and to all of you who sponsored us for your support.

Our next project is opening a new shop for Tia in Halifax town centre.  We have had many issues with the last premises, which frankly, with the care of 120 dogs to consider, Deb and Bob can do without.  The new premises will be fantastic but is currently a complete mess - but if anyone fancies getting stuck in helping clean, decorate or simply lending a hand in the existing shop, please let me know!!!  And I'll be calling on everyone to have a clear out....!

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Thanks for visiting my fundraising page.

For those of you who can't believe their eyes, I can confirm that yes, I am going to dust off my trainers, sweatbands and leg warmers circa 1986 (although maybe not my leotard) and and I intend to do some training beyond running for the canteen before it shuts! 

The great irony is that I am running on behalf of a large group of great athletes.  At the last count (although changing daily), 114 four-legged athletes, the majority of whom ran at stadiums or unlicensed tracks across the UK and then, at the end of their career at the age of three or four, were unwanted and homeless, injured, and sometimes badly neglected or abused.  

Tia Greyhound Rescue in West Yorkshire is an independent rehoming charity dedicated to caring for these beautiful, gentle animals.  I have been involved with Tia for nearly four years but I am constantly amazed at the work they do. Deb and Bob work tirelessly around the clock, and, thanks to their dedication, have ensured that over 1750 dogs have found the 'forever home' they richly deserve.  Those of you who have read the book I wrote about Tia (shameless plug - nearly sold out, but now working on the sequel!) will have seen the challenges they have faced over the last twelve years. 

We responded to the DEFRA consultation on the Welfare of Racing Greyhound Regulations.  As drafted, they make no provision for the dog's life away from the track - let alone responsibility for their retirement or transparency as to the numbers bred for racing and 'disposed of' when they no longer make the grade.

My next-door neighbour Johnny will be accompanying me; he's not the chocolate labrador that Julie, Graham and Mollie were orginally considering but I am so pleased they gave a Tia dog a chance and he's settling in really well into family life since arriving just over a month ago.  He's much cuter than me so of course I'm going to use his pic rather than my own!  We will be walking rather than running the circuit; Johnny was an excellent runner and I would not keep up!

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Tia Greyhound Rescue gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

So please sponsor me and Johnny now and help us help other beautiful dogs like him secure a future as much loved pet, not a easily-expendable 'commodity', a way of making a quick buck or laundering the proceeds of crimninal activity.  Our ambitious target of £685 is the cost of running Tia for just 24 hours.  Many, many thanks for your support.