Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page in relation to raising funds for the Mann Cat Sanctuary via completing the London to Brighton 100 Kilometre Challenge in 24 hours on 12th May.

The Mann Cat Sanctuary is a registered Manx charity, providing a haven for unwanted and neglected animals, with a focus on providing cats a free roaming sanctuary for as long as their natural life. It relies solely on the generosity of the public. The Sanctuary has a non-destruction policy unless a cat is suffering from a terminal illness or has injuries that are beyond veterinary help.

The Sanctuary which currently looks after over 300 animals operates under the Guiding Principle "Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace" - Albert Schweitzer.

I have been a lover of animals and particularly cats all my life, and am currently the proud owner of Daisy, a beautiful if mischievous 11 year old, who we adopted as a stray when he turned up in the doorstep eight years ago. So many animals however, are not so lucky. I believe passionately that all animals should be treated with compassion and respect in equal measure to the unconditional love that they give back to us. To this end the work of the Mann Cat Sanctuary is very dear to my heart and I decided that I wanted to give up my time and effort to help the continuation of their work, over and above my involvement of being a sponsor of the gorgeous Zorro.

On a personal level, despite being a sporty person in my younger days, I had let middle age spread get a grip and I was horrified and embarrassed when taken to a Weight Watchers meeting in September, to find that I had ballooned to 16 stone (224 pounds) in weight. In response I dug out my old running shoes and hit the road. Though it has been very difficult with a few setbacks along the way, I have lost 42 pounds to date, and in late February completed my first Half Marathon in 20 years.

The challenge presented by the London 2 Brighton 100 Kilometre Challenge in 24 hours, is of a greater magnitude than any I have faced to date, but I am determined to see it through and the thought of assisting all those wonderful furry friends in the process will make the satisfaction all the greater.

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.

So please dig deep and donate now.