Yippeh!! I have completed the running challenge today: I was 358th finisher in the Dorney Dash 10k out of a field of 756 runners, and made the finish line in 50.47 minutes. My original race plan (the BUPA London 10,000) had been crossed by a virus back in May, so I had to look for a worthy replacement. This race definitely delivered, it had professional organisation with chip-timing, lots of 'serious runners' attending, and I can assure my sponsors that being amidst this huge group of runners spurned me on to 'dash' around Dorney Lake to the best of my abilities!

Many thanks again to all who have sponsored me already, and to those who may still sponsor me now: Your gifts to this fantastic charity are much appreciated!    Best wishes, Simone    (read on for a little info on what SPANA's about..)

SPANA (The Society for the Protections of Animals Abroad) provides free veterinary care to hard-working donkeys and horses in Africa and the Middle East. They educate the animal owners how to take better care of their animals, and they hold events at schools to encourage positive attitudes to animals in school children in countries where caring deeply about animal welfare is not typically part of the culture. It's my favourite charity: It's run intelligently, it's endearing for animal lovers such as myself, it's extremely experienced for its line of work, it generates positive change: Fab!

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 and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

No amount is too small, every pound will soon add up to support this valuable work! Thank You!