This year, I am running the Great North Run in aid of the Cats Protection, specifically supporting the Nottinghamshire branch of this amazing charity, which is where my cat, Edie, came from.

I adopted Edie in January 2019. After visiting lots of shelters in the local area without finding the right kitty, I visited the Cats Protection branch in Nuthall. I had seen her picture on the website, which included detail of her having a shaved chest. On arrival, I enquired with the staff and they explained she had an overactive thyroid, and had recently undergone surgery to remove half of her thyroid. They said she had been overlooked for her appearance, and her age. Funnily enough, my close friend Katie had the same thyroid condition, so it felt like fate. The last time I ran the GNR, I raised money for the British Thyroid Foundation, so this feels like an apt cause to support next.

I entered Edie's enclosure and I knew she was right for me. She made a beeline for me, weaving through my legs, giving me heads butts and meowing. At the ripe age of 10, she still had so much life in her. She settled into life in Long Eaton beautifully. She was my companion through the pandemic, sleeping on my chest every night, joining me while I worked at the dining table and always ready for a cuddle on the sofa while watching endless boxsets during those surreal months of isolation. Her fur never fully grew back, she forever looked like she was wearing a necklace, but that made her unique and special. She wasn't too fond of any other humans, and she never really warmed to her feline step sister, Morrissey, who moved in with us in late 2020, but I know she loved me and for that, I am forever grateful.

Edie sadly passed away in April 2024, but I feel lucky to have known her for five years of her life, and to have given her a loving home for that time. All cats deserve a safe and loving home, and for that reason I am raising money for the Cats Protection to support the work they do in rescuing and rehoming feline friends in Nottinghamshire.

As a Geordie, running the Great North Run is special, and supporting this cause makes it all the more so. I am hugely grateful for any donations you are able to give, thank you from the bottom of my heart, from me and all the kitties it will help! And if you were wondering how I felt signing up to raise money for Cats Protection, please watch the video below.

Cats Protection help more cats than any other organisation and we want to help millions more. We are a dedicated community of passionate employees, volunteers, supporters and partners, working together to make life better for millions of cats and the people who care for them.

We are the voice of cats in society and we speak up for their protection.

We’re working towards a society where every cat is treated with kindness and respect.

Making a better life for cats, because life is better with cats.

Find out more: www.cats.org.uk