Last year I was lucky enough to secure a place in the 2025 London Marathon. After 100’s of cold winter kilometres, I am now less than two months away from race day. Running a marathon has always been an aspiration of mine, and crossing the finishing line in April (hopefully!) will be a proud accomplishment.

After giving it some thought I have decided to run the marathon for the charity StreetVet. Everyone who knows me is aware of my love for animals but another cause close to my heart is homelessness. There are any number of unfortunate reasons people find themselves on the streets, as are the number of challenges and risks they face once there. Many who find themselves in this position are pet owners, and therefore face the awful decision of either leaving their pet behind or taking them with them onto the street. This latter option adds additional difficulties on top of what is an already dire situation.

StreetVet provides free accessible veterinary care to the pets of those experiencing homelessness. They have 17 outreach locations across the UK and are supported by over 400 vet/vet nurse volunteers. At these locations and often in conjunction with other social care providers and outreach programmes StreetVet volunteers deliver free preventative and reactive veterinary care. This includes diagnostic tests, flea and worming treatment, microchipping, education and supplying daily essentials such as food, treats and equipment.

Any spare pounds that you can give to this fantastic charity will be greatly appreciated, and give me even more motivation on the day to get to the finish line!

Thank you

Chris