Some of you will remember that last year I completed a 50km in aid of World Animal Protection.  As I staggered across the finish line I the first words I managed to gasp to my husband Dan were "don't you EVER let me do that again".  Technically speaking Dan kept his promise,  12 months later here I am intending to complete 84km along the River Thames from Oxford to Henley on the 10th-11th September!  To top it off from 22-26 July I'll also be in Norway undertaking some preliminary training as I hike the Trolltunga. 

This year I'm undertaking the challenge in order to raise money for the wonderful Greyhound Gap; a UK based charity which intervenes to save greyhounds and lurchers from euthanasia on death row.  It's a sad fact that many people still view sighthounds as disposable property to be used for racing, coursing and other questionable "sport" until they are no longer deemed fast enough or useful enough to turn a profit.  After this many perfectly healthy dogs are simply abandoned, tied up and left to die, thrown from moving vehicles or worse.  Greyhound Gap play a vital role in saving these dogs from euthanasia, carefully caring for them, undertaking detailed behavioural assessments and painstakingly matching them with fantastic new families.  Many dogs who come to Greyhound Gap may not have experienced love and affection before, nor the chance to learn basic training or play and interact with other dogs.  The patience shown by the team at Greyhound Gap in building the dogs' confidence and teaching them how to trust again is limitless. 

Greyhound Gap receives no government assistance and rely entirely on donations and fundraising to care for the 40-50 dogs that might be in their kennels at any one time.  The financial costs of dog food, ongoing medical care, toys and simply keeping the kennels running are huge but the trustees and volunteers of the charity meet every challenge with unwavering cheerfulness and humour, working all hours of the day to ensure the dogs are cared for.  

This is a cause very close to my heart as we rescued our own greyhound x whippet Freya earlier this year after she was suspected of being used for coursing before being abandoned.  She is a sensitive, playful and funny girl very typical of the greyhound breed, who just loves to be near her human friends.  Had Freya ever found herself at risk of euthanasia I sincerely hope a charity like Greyhound Gap would have been able to save her, so if you can spare a few pounds to benefit this incredibly worthwhile cause it would mean the world not only to Freya and I but to the many, many sighthounds out there whose future is so bleak.

"When man becomes silent, the voiceless become the hopeless".

Please do check out https://www.facebook.com/groups/352291034157/?fref=nf to follow Greyhound Gap's invaluable work, visit www.greyhoundgap.org.uk or speak to your local rehoming centre to find out more about what wonderful pets greyhounds and lurchers make.  Thank you so much for your contribution and I hope I can do you all proud, humans and hounds alike.

Sarah x