Many of you will know that I took part in the New York Marathon in 2009 where we raised approximately £3000 for Macmillan Cancer Care. Now, not content with the drubbing handed out to me by my dear friend Miss Alexandra Buist, there is a new 26.2 mile challenge lined up for the 22nd April 2012; THE VIRGIN LONDON MARATHON.  

As I am sure you are all aware, I spend my life working with horses, but what many of you may not know is that Pool House Equine Clinic do a lot of work with the Hilda Archer Equine Rehoming Centre of The Blue Cross at Rolleston-on-Dove, Staffordshire. 

The Blue Cross is an animal welfare charity that was founded in 1897 initially with a vested interest in the horses working in and around London. Now, some 114 years later, it has a nationwide network of animal adoption centres for both horses and small animals. Many of the horses that our practice has dealt with are in poor condition and often petrified of humans when we first see them. The folks at the rehoming centre do fantastic work and spend a lot of time and effort building relationships and bridges with these animals, often transforming their lives in the long term. Its main mission statements are:

1.To treat the animals of owners who cant aford vet care

2.Find permanent homes for unwanted/abandoned animals

3.Educate the public about responsible pet ownership

4.Promote the benefits to humans of companion animal  ownership

Our job, as a small part of that network, is to provide as much veterinary care as we can for the equine arm of the charity. One thing that many of you will know if you have pets of your own is that veterinary care is not cheap, no matter how hard we as vets try to keep the costs down! The Blue Cross involvement doesnt end when animals are rehomed, they keep a close eye on every single one after they move to new homes and support the owners as much as is possible!

I have been set a target of £1500 to raise but I would like to get soooo much more than that for a charity which is very dear to my heart. I realise that times are hard and people dont have as much disposable income as years gone by, but any donation is hugely appreciated and will go a little way to helping the charity, and I, to achieving our goals. 

I shall ofcourse keep you all posted on how training is going....20 weeks to go!!!