Virtual half-marathon runners raise £550 to help stray animals

Two friends who work nights at Tesco in Ely raised £550 for an animal charity by running a virtual half-marathon on Sunday (March 7).

Jane Dunsmore, of Soham, and Tony Read, of Manea, ran 13.20 miles in two hours and 22 minutes for Furry Friends, a charity that helps feed 300,000 starving stay dogs in Mauritius. 

Jane said: "This is an amazing amount and the support Tony and myself received was amazing.

"The money will feed a lot of stray cats and dogs in Mauritius and will help a lot of individuals out who can feed up to 150 strays a day.

"They feed them every day - mainly in a diet of chicken and rice, which they prepare themselves daily. 

In April 2019 the pair jumped out of a plane at 10,000ft while they ran the length of the London virtual marathon (around Soham and Ely) in October 2020.

Jane said: "We send money over on a weekly basis to help with sterilisations, veterinary care, ongoing care of sick animals, care and sterilisation of puppies, kittens and most importantly for food. 

"Because without our help the animals are sadly left to starve to death."

The pair haven’t run a proper race since the Cambridge half-marathon last year before the first lockdown, with every race since then being virtual.

Donate online via Jane's PayPal.