Hello!

Now as some of you will know, I am running the Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon on 12th October 2014, a slightly momentous event for me personally, as I do not exactly have an illustrious history when it comes to running (although I did once win a medal aged approximately six years old at Kingsbury Hill sports day). To put it simply, I am not really a "runner". However, I have perhaps rashly signed up to run a half marathon (all 13.1 miles), and have been surreptitiously training for the past three months, spending the odd evening pootling around Hyde Park in the guise of a sweaty, breathless blob.

All this will no doubt be worth it however, as I am undertaking the event in aid of a wonderful charity called SPANA, an animal welfare charity for the working animals of the world. Working animals, such as horses, donkeys, mules and camels, are essential to millions of families in the developing world. SPANA improves the lives of working animals by providing free veterinary care, education and training and emergency response. In many of the worlds’ poorest communities, people would struggle to provide for their families without their animals. SPANA runs programmes in counties as diverse as Ethiopia, Jordan, Mongolia and Afghanistan, and you can read more about their work here: https://spana.org/

This is an exceptionally worthy cause, and having been very lucky to grow up surrounded by horses and donkeys, one that I am very passionate about. Therefore, if you are able to donate anything at all, firstly I would be extremely grateful, but it will make a real difference to animals, and the families that rely on them. Every single donation will also spur me on as I trudge my way around central London come October!

Thanks ever so much.

Laura x

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.