Some of you in and around Chester may have heard this tragic story. On 13th March 2018, a couple were walking their dog Silva in the Countess of Chester Country Park. She slipped down the side of Knoll Bridge and fell into the water. She couldn’t get out and the strong current pulled her under and devastatingly she drowned.

The council are working at making the area safe so that this can never happen again and there are signs up advising dogs to be kept on leads there.

Silva‘s owners Natalie and Jamie want to raise funds to create a safe enclosed area for dogs to play in memory of Silva. Over £1000 has already been raised.

A MARATHON IN A MONTH: On 29th April, I ran the Chester Half Marathon to help raise funds toward this. I'm pleased to say that I beat my target time of 2:20 and ran it in 2:17! I am also going to be running the Liverpool Rock and Roll Half Marathon on 20th May to try to raise even more money in Silva's memory.

I will pay the additional fee that Just Giving take for crowdfunding pages to make sure that everything you donate goes toward this.

Before this terrible tragedy, I wanted to also help support our local hedgehog rescue and will also be donating 10% of what I raise to help the hedgehogs who are sadly in decline in our countrysides, and will continue to raise money for this ongoing within my new pet shop on Parkgate Road. www.imperial-pets.com. Facebook @imperialpetsuk.

Thank you so much everyone, and let’s all Stride out for Silva! 💜🐾