I’m taking part in the Herbie’s Heroes Challenge to walk 100km in May – and I’m doing it for the animals who suffer silently in laboratories across the UK.

As a vegan and passionate animal advocate, this cause is incredibly close to my heart. During my PhD, I learned that my university alone uses over 100,000 animals every year in research. But these animals aren’t just numbers. I was able to rehome four ex-lab rats – Mango, Kiwi, Almond and Oatly – who were going to be euthanised simply because they were no longer “needed.” They became part of my family. They were gentle, intelligent, and full of personality.

This challenge is especially dedicated to Kiwi, who sadly had to be put to sleep last month.

Across the UK, 2.5 million animals suffer in labs every year. And more than 92% of drugs that pass animal tests fail in human trials – a shocking failure rate that proves how broken this system is.

That’s why we’re calling for Herbie’s Law – a commitment to end animal testing in medical research by 2035, and to replace it with kinder, more reliable alternatives.

If you believe in compassion, progress, and a future where no animal is treated as disposable, please support my challenge. Your donation helps make that future possible.

Thank you so much 🩷