A dedicated fundraiser will be preparing to brave a 100-kilometre trek in memory of a beloved family pet, to raise money for leading animal welfare charity, Battersea, to mark Pet Remembrance Day (5 July).
After 14 years of cherished canine memories, dog-lover Tracy Brown wanted to mark the legacy of to her ‘special boy’ Charlie, a 14-year-old Cavachon, who passed away earlier this year and she will be donning her walking boots to take part in the epic Thames Path Challenge this September in Charlie’s memory. The mammoth walk will see Tracy cover a distance of over 60 miles in under 24 hours on the paths alongside the River Thames through day and night.
Having welcomed him into her life as a young pup, Charlie gave Tracy and her family a lifetime of loving memories, snuggling up for evening snoozes with his favourite toy and enjoying trips to the beach in his golden years.
Speaking about taking on the challenge, Tracy said: “Dogs bring so much to people’s lives and our boy Charlie charmed us all the minute we laid eyes on him with just one wag of his tail. I wanted to do something special to remember him and challenge myself by doing this amazing walk for the animals at Battersea. Charlie loved a good walk and though he may not be by my side anymore, I'll be thinking of him whilst I take on the course as I'll be holding his favourite toy in my hand the whole way round”.
Tracy has been hitting the pavements in preparation for her challenge and is already well under way with her training, walking 15 miles a week. She is aiming to raise £1,000 for Battersea whose expert teams go all in every day to ensure rescue dogs and cats have the best chance of finding new homes.
Tracy added: “This Pet Remembrance Day I’ll be out on one of my practice hikes to get ready for my challenge and will be raising a glass to our boy Charlie at our local pub where he was such a little celebrity. As an animal lover it’s so heartwarming to know that this will be helping rescue dogs and cats get the second chance in life that they deserve, so they can go onto live lives full of love like Charlie.”
Pet Remembrance Day, which takes place every year on 5 July, helps us to remember the special dogs, cats and other animals who are no longer with us but will always have a special place in our hearts.
Michelle Adelman, Battersea’s Legacy and In Memory Fundraising Manager, said: “A pet’s individual quirks and charms bring so much to our lives and we’re very lucky to have inspiring supporters like Tracy helping to raise funds for the dogs and cats that we see across our centres that need forever homes”.
To find out more about ways you can remember and celebrate the life of a pet no longer with us whilst raising funds to help Battersea’s rescue dogs and cats, please visit: www.battersea.org.uk/inmemory
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For further information, images or interviews please contact press@battersea.org.uk.
Notes to editors
- Tracy’s fundraising page can be found here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/tracy-brown-171732925113
- At Battersea we offer our love and expert care to dogs and cats who need us by rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming animals at our centres, and by sharing our knowledge and resources with rescue organisations around the world. We do this because we want to help every dog and cat, everywhere.
- In 2023 Battersea directly cared for 2,529 dogs and 2,450 cats at our three centres. We also helped thousands more through campaigning work, supporting other rescues and animal welfare advocates, and sharing knowledge and advice with pet owners.
- Battersea has three centres based in London; Old Windsor, Berkshire; and Brands Hatch, Kent.
- To find out more visit our website or follow Battersea on X @battersea_, Instagram @battersea or facebook.com/Battersea.