Christine & Daisy Dog's London Marathon 2019

christine blackman is raising money for Blue Cross
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London Marathon 2019 · 28 April 2019 ·

Welcome to our London Marathon team page! Team Blue Cross will be running and fundraising to change the lives of thousands of sick, injured and abandoned pets every.

Story

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.                Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

As this is my 6th London Marathon- and last year I had such an amazing experience running as Daisy Dog (despite the 25 degree temperatures, and being a very 'hot dog'), Daisy Dog is back, and yet again I decided this after a few glasses of prosecco.  

And as everyone who knows me, knows how much I love working at the Young's pub the Hand in Hand, Wimbledon Common, especially all of our pawsome four legged customers, and as we have retained our Dog Buddy.com - London's Dog Friendliest Pub title for a third year I had to bring Daisy out again, and when you have wonky knees, dodgy ankles and feet - fun running means far less pain and I can make it round almost in one piece.

Daisy was my first rescue cat and pet that was mine, not a family pet -  she was my inspiration through my first London Marathon in 2012 for Blue Cross, and the reason I have my third rescue cat Ellie - my little loving survivor, who was left abandoned in a flat - she astounds me everyday how loving and affectionate she is, despite suffering and facing, life threatening conditions at the hands of humans.

The Blue Cross is a charity close to my heart - which is why i continue to run the London marathon for them - their strap line -''Pets Change Lives'' - resinates with me massively, i know how much pets have impacted my life only for the better, and they ask for so little in return compared to what they bring and give to our lives.  They are there through good times and especially the bad, they are our best friends, constant companions, life motivators, loyal and trustworthy, they never judge all they ask in return is a happy, loving healthy home.

The Blue Cross has worked to change the lives of pets in need, since 1897, during world war one they played a key role - providing soldiers with pocket books on how to care for their horses, their field hospitals saved the lives of many of our war horses, and they helped to bring home as many as possible at the the end of the war - this is something i remember my dad telling me about as a child. 
They have constantly been there to help the nations pets (horses, cats, dogs, rabbits and all small furries)  in so many ways -  rehoming centres and networks - run by fosters/volunteers who find homes for over 10,900 pets every year, veterinary hospitals including one in Merton and mobile clinics that help those who cannot afford private fees including the homeless who have pets, especially here in London - over 31,000 pets helped every year, their award winning pet bereavement support service which helps over 5,800 each year, their education programme and talks reach over 90,000 children every year, campaigning on issues affecting all pets nationwide, they provide free online information and advice for any pet owner via their website and social media, and carry out over 6,500 pet behaviour consultations annually. They are there for neglected, abandoned, abused pets and for pets who through no fault of their own have to be given up by their owners - in sometimes heartbreaking circumstances.

I have been able to see this work first hand, from visiting their hospitals at Merton and London Victoria and their largest rehoming centre in Burford Oxfordshire, where I met a very special pony called Puffin, she was found in a disgusting state of neglect and having suffered appalling cruelty - she was in Blue cross care for 18 months one of a group of abused ponies, the Puffin I met was unrecognisable from her first pictures, it had taken a year and half of love, care and rehabillitation to get her ready for rehoming and to trust humans again.   I have met many people who work for the Charity and they are all amazing and so passionate about the work they do - they give me constant inspiration to do more. 

Thank you for your time, please donate anything you can i really appreciate any donation - I feel so lucky that I get to be part of the worlds most iconic marathon and biggest one day fundraising event in the world, doing something I love - running, for a charity I love, who help pets - my biggest love.

Pets don't have a voice we are their voice - those who are neglected, adandoned, suffering, abused and mistreated rely on those of us who love animals/pets to be there. Please give back to Pets - Pets change lives xx

Donation summary

Total
£3,221.20
+ £271.55 Gift Aid
Online
£1,146.20
Offline
£2,075.00

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