Great runners take steps for animal welfare

13.09.11

We have one of our strongest teams for the Great North Run this year, with more than 20 runners taking part to help raise money for the animals in our care.

Some of our runners come from as far afield as Lincolnshire and London to take part in the 31st staging of the half marathon, which takes place between Newcastle and Gateshead on Sunday, 18 September.

Meet our team of Great North runners

Our Felledge Animal Centre in Chester-le-Street has its very own mini team of runners, all raising money just for the centre. Deputy manager, Rebecca Williams, and her brother, Rob, are old hands, or should that be feet, at the biggest half marathon event in the UK. Rebecca said:

I have a chronic joint condition which makes life and running pretty painful but I really believe that most things can be achieved if you put your mind to it, and the animals certainly need our support.

This year, Mary Reid, who works in human resources, and RSPCA Inspector Emma Ellis, both based in Leeds, are joining the team; along with running novices Leanne Plumtree and her husband Justin, from North Lincolnshire, where they live with their dog Bodie.
 

Helping the most abused animals in the North of England

Leanne works as the senior regional press officer for the North of England and sees firsthand the amazing work done at Felledge.

Leanne said:

 

Staff and volunteers at the RSPCA Felledge Animal Centre care for some of the most abused animals in the North of England until they can be rehomed.

In most cases, the dogs, cats and equines have come into RSPCA care after suffering terrible cruelty and neglect at the hands of the people who are supposed to love and care for them. It’s such a vital facility and needs all the funds it can get.

As well as the Felledge team, an RSPCA inspector from the West Yorkshire group is doing the Great North Run. Inspector Rachel Oprysk is running for the Bradford and District Branch, which is an independent branch of the RSPCA.

And Natalie James will be running on behalf of the RSPCA Bryn-y-maen Animal Centre. Natalie, supervisor at the centre, said:
 

Twenty four hours a day throughout the year, the RSPCA is inundated with animals who have been suffering through cruel treatment and neglect and we depend solely on people like yourselves to help us raise the funds to allow us to care for and rehabilitate these animals so that they might have the chance for a happier future.

Seeing all this work first hand, I can appreciate how costly the resources are but also how vital they are to get these animals back on their feet. So I will happily do my bit and run my socks off!!

Support our runners

If you would like to support our runners, and help some of the most abused animals in the North of England, please visit:

• http://www.justgiving.com/EmmaEllis841
   
• http://www.justgiving.com/Rebecca-Williams7
   
• http://www.justgiving.com/Leanne-Plumtree
  
  
• http://www.justgiving.com/natalie-james-bym

And, if you have your own place in the Great North Run we would love for you to join our team, or if not why not join our cheering team?

Find out how you can get involved and go the extra mile for the RSPCA.