In August 2022 I will be spending 3 days canoeing the Lower Zambezi River and then a further day of volunteering on a Big Cat project run by the Alert Charity (African Lion and Environmental Research Trust). This will be a big personal challenge for me as we kayak 12-28 kilometres per day and camp on the banks of the river. I intend to cover my own travel costs, vaccinations etc. I am fundraising for Cherwell Cats Protection, my local branch of Cats Protection for whom I volunteer.

Like many mad cat ladies I’ve grown up with cats and seven years ago I adopted two of my own from Cats Protection. Six years ago I joined my local branch of Cats Protection and started to look after the Cherwell Cats Protection Twitter account. I’ve since gone on to be a cat fosterer and so far I’ve looked after 31 cats: Misty, Bluey, Lady, Duchess, Tiddles, Maple, Persephone, Nike, Binx, Sammy and #ThreeLittleHooligans aka Pippin, Sam and Merry, Fred, Maggie aka #LittleBigPaws, Artie, Sooty aka #PurringPanther, Muffin, Wolverine, Storm, Peanut, Amber, Izzy, Katniss, Tom, Sam, Lula #LulaLoveCat, Stan and Ollie, Willow and Finn 😺  

Whilst in the UK we consider ourselves to be a nation of animal lovers, many animals including cats are still mistreated and it is not uncommon for Cherwell to take in young pregnant cats and unneutered toms who have been left to fend for themselves. I have decided to do this challenge so I can help our branch do more. Last year we rehomed over 200 cats and kittens and our Vet Bills ran into tens of thousands of pounds.

Cats Protection is the UK’s leading feline welfare charity. Our vision is a world where every cat is treated with kindness and an understanding of its needs. Cats Protection has simple and clear objectives to help cats: Homing - Finding good homes for cats in need Neutering - Supporting and encouraging the neutering of cats. Information - Improving people’s understanding of cats and their careAchieving this vision is only made possible due to kind cat lovers who support our work. Visit www.cats.org.uk for more information.