26th August 2010

My intention was to walk 26miles to help save a species I love. Since signing up for the walk I have suffered two body blows. In March my gorgeous Border Collie Lily age 12 was taken from me with pneumonia. Today her sister Cody age 13 was taken from us after her back legs gave up. Both are reunited and, I hope, running together at Rainbow Bridge. But I am devestated and I am unable to take part in the plod.

My hope is that those of you who have donated will allow the donation to stand as a testiment to our friendship and acknowledgement of the love I shared with two of the most amazing Border Collies ever to grace this planet.

If you are visiting this page for the first time - the dolphins still need us. A little something to help them and in memory of those we have all loved and lost would be much appreciated.

I am sorry to let so many of you down but those of you who truely understand me will know how hard the next few days are going to be and I am greatful for your support.

Below is the orignal 'blog' of my training and ambition that led to this date.

 

15/02/2010  My name is Sara Redford and last year I had the privilege to stand at Chanonry point and watch members of our Scottish pod of Bottlenose dolphins play (some of the last native to the UK), just feet away from me. Standing there, with the seawater filling my shoes, taking photo after photo was the highlight of my trip to Scotland. I've seen dolphins in the wild before but this was so special because, well, they're ours, aren't they - our own dolphins, that we can visit whenever we want.....can't we....

...well yes, at the moment, but their habitat and their future is under threat so I'm joining the WDCS (whale and dolphin conservation society) on a 26 mile walk in a bid to Protect Our Dolphins - Pod Plod (great name isn't it). Yes, that's 26 miles over two days, along the Moray Costal Trail from Findhorn to Spey bay, on the August Bank Holiday when I would usually be lazing in the garden in the sun - this means a lot to me!

If you want to know more about the fantastic work the WDCS do, go here, but before you go, please leave me a donation for the cause. And thank you in advance because I know you won't leave this page without leaving a little something in the pot  for the Dolphins :-)

Oh and those photo's on the left - they're mine from last year. The top two at Chanonry point, the third on an eco-sensitive boat trip in the Moray Firth (well, you know me!)

21/04/10 A massive thankyou to all who have sponsored me so far - you are making a huge difference. Please keep it coming :-)

17/05/10 Training is going well - yes, me, training; oi stop laughing! So please dig deep and give me more incentive (as if it were needed - this is for the dolphins after all).

17/06/10 I walked to work last week, only once mind, but it was 4miles and only took me an hour. More hill walks and river walks planned to build up the distance :-)

13/07/10 It's been way too hot to do much walking round here - there's just no shade. So I've taken to the bike! The exercise bike that is - in the cool shade of my hallway lol 10k rides to improve my calf muscles. Appropriate don't you think; by improving my calves I can help save the calves of the dolphins ;-)

15/07/10 WooHooo! Target reached. Thank You so much to everyone who has sponsored me and bought jewellery to help me reach my target. But I'd really like to do better than this, so let's raise the bar a bit - there's still plenty of time for you to donate if you haven't already done so. Together we can smash the original target and really make a difference.

31/07/10 The count down to the big weekend begins! Walking socks - check; comfortable t-shirts - check; positive mental attitiude - check! I can do this - no probs ;-)

I've been reading this week about the proposed siesmic activities to take place in the Firth and surrounding regions in September - this concerns me greatly; it's a ridiculous prospect. So this walk is even more important now, to raise awareness and to raise funds to help fight inappropriate activities!

25/08/10 Less than 24 hours until I leave for Scotland on an epic 14 hour train journey! It's pouring here at home on the south coast and it's set to pour in Scotland - ah well. Seems appropriate that I get wet for the dolphins! There's still time to donate if you haven't already and I will be posting an update on my return. A huge THANK YOU to everyone for their support.

 

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