On Sunday 4th October I will be running my first ever half-marathon 🏃🏼‍♀️. After starting my running journey back in November 2025, I always wanted to sign up to a big event like this and challenge myself. When I finally had the courage to do it, I knew I wanted to fundraise some money for a worthy charity.

Rewind back to November 2023, my partner and I were looking at adopting a little cat into our family and we instantly fell in love with a grey tabby cat called Smudge. We knew he was the one for us the first time we met him and he instantly did his signature ‘flop’ for us. So we adopted him and took him home 🏡

Unfortunately this perfect story doesn’t happen for all cats. From visiting the Sandbach Animal Rescue centre, we witnessed so many cats who had been put up for adoption out of no fault of their own. It breaks my heart to think of those little cats, who have done nothing wrong but have been given up for one reason or another, taken away from their ‘safe place’ and relocated to a cattery. The only saving grace, is that the cats who have been rescued by Sandbach Animal Rescue are in the best possible care, the staff are volunteers who give up their own free time just to look after these cats and make sure they find their forever home. But they can’t keep on top of all the rescues that keep coming in, each rescue requires a full vet check up, including being neutered, vaccinated and any serious medical issues resolved, and we all know how much vet bills cost!

Sandbach Animal Rescue currently have 80 cats in their care, the money it costs to care for these cats is a lot. That’s why when I take part in the Manchester Half Marathon on Sunday 4th October, I will be running for Sandbach Animal Rescue, along with some cat ears and the charity’s colours, you won’t miss me! 🐈‍⬛ 💜

If you can, please donate to this incredible charity. Donations not only help to keep the charity running but also to help feed and care for these cats who deserve a second chance. 🙏

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and if you can, please donate to this amazing charity 💜

Here’s some information on how donating through JustGiving works!

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.