So anyone who knows me well will know that running is not something I thought I would ever take up, it is still not something I find easy to do. Every race is a tough challenge and I am trying to improve all the time but what running has given me is the opportunity to run races for amazing causes such as The Celia Hammond Animal Trust. 

The trust carry out vital rescue and homing work with abandoned, stray and feral cats and kittens in parts of London and the South East. The charity has two low cost veterinary clinics in London, at which it neuters and provides treatment for animals whose owners cannot afford veterinary fees. The Trust has a strict non-destruction policy unless animals are suffering with a terminal illness or are hopelessly injured and beyond any veterinary help. 

As anyone who happens to follow me on Instagram or Facebook will know, I have two cats of my own (Louis and Lola) who I post about all the time and who I love very much. They are both rescues from CHAT and sadly would not be here to bring me all of the joy that they do had CHAT not existed. They were found in a garden when they were only a few months old, the owners had moved out and they had been left on their own without their mum and were not in the best shape when they were taken in to the centre. A few days later along comes me, I went in to the branch that day in the hope of possibly adopting an older cat, maybe a wise old ginger one but definitely not a kitten. What did I leave with? 2 slightly bedgraggled looking long haired black kittens who I was affectionately told would probably become "quite playful" once they were used to their surroundings (that was an understatement!). CHAT provided free veterinary care for Louis when he became very ill shortly after I took him home and for that I am forever indebted to them. I am so grateful that both my cats are here and that I am able to give them the lovely life that they have. Without CHAT, who knows what would have happened to them.