I am currently training to run the Exe Estuary Half Marathon on 30th June 2024, (https://race-nation.co.uk/register/winding-paths/exe-estuary-2024) and I am wanting to raise some well needed funds for a small animal charity called Lucas Helps Dogs, based in Sri Lanka.

Lucas Helps Dogs (https://www.lucashelpsdogs.com/) provides critical medical care to injured and abused street dogs and cats, such as spay and neuter clinics, vaccinating them against parvovirus and rabies and providing urgent medial treatment to injuries and diseases.

After recently spending 1 month in Sri Lanka, I saw a really upsetting amount of dogs and cats that were living with broken limbs, infected wounds, they were incredibly malnourished and starving, and I would often see locals hitting and kicking the dogs.

Sadly, street dogs in Sri Lanka are incredibly mistreated and there is a massive lack of access to food, water and safe places for these dogs to live. In a very poor country, there is also of course a lack of veterinary services or education on animal welfare, which is the best way to help these animals.

There is also absolutely no support from the Sri Lankan government for any animal charities working in Sri Lanka which is why donating money is so important and the main way the animals can be helped.

It costs roughly £25 to spay/neuter and vaccinate a dog against rabies, which is unrealistic for a local to be able to afford. We are incredibly privileged in the west and we are in such an amazing position to be able to save even just one animals life. If you can, I would be so grateful if you could donate even something small to Lucas Helps Dogs, as it really does make all the difference to these babies lives 🩷