I'm running the London Marathon to raise funds for the Retreat Animal Rescue sanctuary in Ashford.

This has been one of the most challenging years for The Retreat since the sanctuary was founded in 1989. Record-breaking levels of rainfall mean bills are skyrocketing, so the team wants to go into winter knowing they can keep looking after the more than one thousand animals they care for.

These angels are hoping to raise £50,000 so they can have the peace of mind that all new rescues and their current residents will have exactly what they need in the hard months ahead. I am aiming to raise £5,000 of that target.

At the Retreat, animals are given the time, care and love they need to recover before being rehomed. If a suitable home cannot be found, they simply stay at The Retreat for the rest of their lives, bathed in love.

It will be nine years since I ran my last marathon so it will probably be quite a challenge but I'm doing it to help this beautiful, vegan animal sanctuary. They need us more than ever, to help them face this unprecedented challenge.