Cat owner gears up for a year on the run (From Halesowen News)

Cat owner gears up for a year on the run

10:29am Tuesday 5th February 2013 in News

A GRATEFUL cat owner is gearing up for a gruelling year of 12 runs totalling almost 250 miles to raise money for the RSPCA.

Karen Wilson hopes to raise £1,213 in her 12 in 13 challenge which kicks off with next month’s Moreton Morrell 12.4 mile Mad Dash.

The 32-year-old council worker wanted to thank the charity’s Birmingham Animal Centre and Hospital for its “fantastic” support when she and husband Alex took on Polly, an aged rescue cat last year.

Mrs Wilson said: “She was in a very poor way when we got her from the centre and they were very supportive and continued to pay for her medical treatment.

“We were so grateful, this is my way of saying thank you.”

The cat, aged about 12 or 13, was found in a park, partially bald due to a thyroid problem, with a growth in her chest that makes her cough and with an old leg injury, probably from being hit by a car in the past.

But with medication and tender loving care, the pensioner feline is now happily living out her old age at the couple’s Pottery Road home.

Although a keen runner, Mrs Wilson has never tackled as many runs in such a time limit and plans to record her experiences with an internet blog.

Most of the runs are half marathons around the region, ending with the Moreton Morrell Christmas Cracker, but also includes the 105-mile Scotland coast to coast run over two days in September.

Helen Tuite, RSPCA community fundraiser, said: "It is wonderful that Karen is going to such lengths to raise money for us. It will make such a difference to the animals we care for here.”

Mr Wilson has also become a volunteer at the centre and anyone else interested in fundraising for the RSPCA should ring 0300 123 8567 or email bhamfundraising@rspca.org.uk

Anyone wishing to sponsor Mrs Wilson can do so at justgiving.com/karens12in13 and her progress can be followed at karens12in13.blogspot.co.uk