Hey everyone.

Exciting news! I got into the London Marathon with the absolute pleasure of running for the RSPCA. If you know me, then you know I am the biggest animal person you will ever meet. Every day the RSPCA changes lives, laws, industries and minds to create a better world for every animal! My journey with fitness has been a difficult one, and I took some time out of running last year following a stress fracture. Since restarting running I have run the great north run for my dad, a memory I will forever be grateful for. This year, I decided I wanted to challenge myself, and run a full marathon. Not only did I get lucky with being able to run a marathon, but I am lucky enough to be running for a charity, at the London Marathon in 2025. I am scared, and I am trying to prepare myself how I can, but most importantly I am proud that I get to run for such a good cause. Running a marathon is a childhood dream, when I started running this is all I could think about doing. I am SO SO excited to be living this dream. This means the world to me, I hope I am making that girl that dreamed of doing the London Marathon very proud. I am even more proud that I am doing this for a charity that supports animals. Before I can run this, I have a pledge to run £2000 for the RSPCA. Something I am very sure is possible, but I am going to need your help.

Personally, our family have always tried our hardest to look out for every animal we can. Misty, our first family pet, was recused off the streets after her family abandoned her due to the operation to remove a hernia being too expensive. Harley, our beautiful and full of attitude cat, was adopted after being abandoned with his litter. As Misty got older we rescued Milo, who was found abandoned as a puppy in an empty factory. After Milo, our family began to look after dogs before going to their forever homes. Stevie, Shamus, Brian, Rudi, and Petee will always have a special place in our hearts. Our last foster, Danny, quickly became a failed foster as we couldn't detach him from my dad, who became his best friend. Brian came back to us shortly after this, after being neglected by his adopted family, and had been renamed Mac. Mac needs a lot of patience, but he is truly a big softie. Our little pack, Milo, Mac and Danny bring so much joy to our lives. This is why I have been so excited to run and raise money for the RSPCA. It is truly heartbreaking that any animal has to go through pain and suffering, and the RSPCA is the leading charity working towards making a better world for animals.

The RSPCA receives 20,789 calls a week on their cruelty line. This equates to 2,962 calls every day, 123 an hour, and one call a second. For every £1 given to the RSCPA, 82p is spent on animal welfare, 1p is spent on governance and 17p is spent raising the next £1. More than £48 million a year is spent on hospitals and animal centres, £43 million a year is spent on investigating and rescuing animals from cruelty cases, and more than £19 million is spent on RSPCA charities. Although these figures seem high, it is unfortunately not enough to support all the animals that need their help. I need to raise £2000 to run in the marathon, but I want us to raise much more towards this cause.

As a former geography student, it is important to me that this charity is working on policies not only to reduce animal cruelty, but for a better, more sustainable future within the governance of animal rights. Their 2030 ambitions include: securing a UN declaration for animals, achieve statutory powers in England and Wales for inspectors, END suffering for animals within science, see more than half of UK farm animals reared to RSPCA standards and stop illegal puppy and kitten trading. Not only are the RSPCA trying to help animals suffering now, but they are preventing animal suffering in the future.

Even if you read this and decide not to donate (which is totally ok!), please keep in mind how charities like this make such a big difference and how your own compassion towards animals is vital for their change. For those that do donate, thank you! Not only will you inspire me to run a whole bloody marathon! You will be supporting those who are working tirelessly to rescue and care for animals in need, inspire kindness and compassion, and change attitudes, behaviours and laws. For me, I will be running to remember the life we gave Misty after she was rescued, and hope she is running along happily behind me somewhere, as she always used to love doing.

I will be totalling every KM I run from when I am writing this now (6th of Nov), until the London Marathon and posting this weekly on my story! I will be donating 20p for each KM I run until April. Although this seems like little, this will total at around £200 by the time we get there!