Driven for the Dogs

David and Karyn write:

On Sunday our London based daughter Lydia celebrated success in completing her first ever half marathon - and in doing so, raised a significant amount for her beloved charity Battersea Dogs' and Cats' Home - where she has also worked for the past two years.

It all started off as a New Year's resolution (see what they can get you in to)!  To compete in the Royal Windsor Half Marathon and raise money for the animals that are so fortunate to be taken in by Battersea which is a British institution.

When she "jumped out of the starting stalls" on Sunday, Lydia had raised £555 (and she tells us that apparently you can still donate to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home here -   https://www.justgiving.com/lydiaellis/).

Lydia started training in January this year and she struggled to run 2km. Unlike most, she didn't follow a training plan, rather she just tried to run short distances three times a week. She then completed the Richmond Spring Riverside 10km in March - it was a big struggle she says "but I did a respectable time of 1 hour 57 mins. Then once I slowly got fitter, I started running home from work - about 14km".

However it almost all come unstuck as Lydia injured herself with a calf strain a week before Sunday's half marathon.

"There was no way I was going to pull out and the run went amazingly well.  I completed it in two hours 6 mins smashing my target of 2 hours 25 mins. At about 15km my calf started really hurting but I ran through it, now I can hardly walk!"

Lydia has now decided to sign up for the Royal Parks' half marathon through London in October. I've got the bug! It's just so satisfying doing this for a charity that means the world to me."

The Royal Windsor Half Marathon creates the perfect opportunity to experience the historically picturesque Thames Valley.  With an idyllic start and finish at the foot of Windsor Castle, a royal home and fortress for over 900 years, the entirely flat river route guides you upstream to Maidenhead before heading back towards Windsor.

Mainly run along river trail paths, the course incorporates many of the key landmarks that have made Royal Berkshire and its surrounding area so famous.  It is an absolute must for anyone looking for a break from the pavement grind and a change of scenery.  Over 1500 participants enjoyed the best of Windsor, Boveney Lock, Bray, Dorney, Maidenhead and Eton.

Lydia works as a Communications' Assistant at Battersea Dog's and Cats' Home and it was a "no-brainer" that she would raise funds this histroic charity that has come to mean so much to her.

Established in 1860, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home aims to never turn away a dog or cat in need of help. They reunite lost dogs and cats with their owners; when they can't do this they care for them until new owners can be found for them.

Battersea is one of just a few animal rescue centres that run an open intake policy. This means they accept any breed of animal, at any age, including dogs or cats with serious medical and behavioural problems. Their expert team of dog trainers and veterinary staff give the animals in their care the best possible chance of a fresh start in a happy new home in the UK or even further afield.   There is no time limit on how long an animal stays with Battersea until the perfect new owners are found.

We thought you might be interested in some of the history of this special charity -

1860 - 1895
1860 - The Temporary Home for Lost & Starving Dogs is set up by Mrs Mary Tealby in a  disused stableyard in Holloway, North London

1862  - Charles Dickens pens an article in support of the new Home in his popular and famous newspaper, All the Year Round

1871 - The Temporary Home moves to a new site in Battersea, where it has remained ever since

1883 - Battersea starts taking in cats

1885 - Queen Victoria becomes the Home's first Royal Patron

1895 - The Home uses 32 tonnes of biscuits and 420 gallons of milk and receives 36,873 visitors

1896 - 1917
1898 - Due to a rabies epidemic in London the Duke and Duchess of Portland open the Home's first country site in Hackbridge, Surrey

1900 - Architect Clough Williams-Ellis, who created the Italianate village Portmeirion in Wales, designed a new cattery for Battersea, Whittington Lodge, which is still used as offices today - and is a listed building

1904 - The Home opens on Sundays

1909 - Two motor vans and six horse-drawn vans are hired to collect the strays of London

1911 - The Home starts collecting stray dogs from London police stations

1914 - 100 sledge dogs are housed at the Hackbridge site in preparation for Ernest Shackleton's second Antarctic Expedition

1918 - 1979
1918 - Airedale Jack, a Battersea dog trained at the War Dog School, dies on the front line in France after delivering a vital plea for reinforcements, saving the lives of his battalion

1934 - The country site at Hackbridge is sold and Battersea opens a new site in Bow, East London

1956 - Queen Elizabeth II becomes the Home's patron

1960 - Battersea celebrates its centenary

1970 - The Beaufort Kennels at Battersea are opened by the Duchess of Beaufort

1979 - Battersea acquires Bell Mead Kennels on the edge of Old Windsor

1980 - 1998
1984 - Prince Michael of Kent becomes President of the Home, the first full-time veterinary surgeon is employed and 20,000 dogs and 870 cats arrive

1986 - A new kennel complex is opened at Bell Mead Kennels in Old Windsor by Her Majesty The Queen

1990 - Battersea pioneers the microchipping of dogs, a system which has now become widespread and will be a legal requirement for all dogs in England from April 2016

1991 - Tealby Kennels is opened by Her Majesty The Queen. The Home introduces dog behaviour assessments

1995 - Battersea holds its first Annual Reunion in Battersea Park, the Rehabilitation Department is born, and 9,000 dogs and 1,602 cats arrive

1998 - The BBC films a documentary series on the Home

1999-2014
2000 - Battersea's third centre, at Brands Hatch in Kent, is opened

2000 - The BBC returns to Battersea to film a third series and the Lost Dogs & Cats Line is launched

2002 - A change of name to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home

2004 - Red the Lurcher enjoys world-wide fame after he's caught on camera regularly escaping from his kennel and liberating canine chums to share in a little midnight feasting

2005 - The new logo is launched

2007 - The Battersea Old Windsor Cattery opens

2007 - The BBC returns to make a new series, Animal Rescue Live

2009 - Work starts on a new, state-of-the-art cattery at the London site, which is opened by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall in 2010

2010 - Battersea Dogs & Cats Home marks the 150th anniversary of  founder Mary Tealby opening her Temporary Home for Lost and Starving Dogs. Battersea is now probably the world's most famous animal refuge, known and loved by millions, and a national institution. They have cared for over three million animals in an  illustrious 150 year history and firmly secured their place in the hearts of the nation

2011 - Battersea resident Larry the cat moves into his new home at 10 Downing Street

2012 - Michael Owen visits the London centre as part of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay

2012 - The first series of ITV's behind the scenes at Battersea programme, Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs, is aired to the nation, wins a National Television Award and is nominated for a BAFTA

2013 - Series 2 of Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs, is a highlight of the ITV spring schedule, and a second year of Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs at Christmas is watched by millions on Christmas Day

Battersea is also now famous for it's multi award winning 'Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs' which has also screened in New Zealand.  Affectionately known as "pogdogs" this programme is wildly popular in the United Kingdom.  Here's a little history to this:

February 2012 Paul O'Grady and an ITV film crew arrive at our London for the first time to capture the highs and lows of life at the world-famous rescue centre

September 2012 The first episode of Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs is aired to the nation and wins over 4.5 million viewers

October 2012 The final episode of the first series is watched by an audience of 5 million animal lovers

Christmas Day 2012 Battersea shares  festive stories with 4.3 million people throughout the UK as ‘Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs at Christmas' is primetime seasonal viewing

January 2013 The lovely Lurcher puppies, who starred in the festive special made their way to new homes in London, Surrey, Wiltshire, Kent and Sussex

January 2013 The first series wins a National Television Award in the Best Factual Entertainment category

April 2013 The celebrated series is shortlisted for a BAFTA

May 2013 The second series of ‘Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs' airs to an audience of 5.04 million people

June 2013 The last episode of the second series introduces an audience of 5 million to Mr Pickles, Battersea's naughtiest dog

July 2013 Delightful Staffie duo Bella and Missy find a home north of the border after starring in the series and proving that the breed are softer than people think

August 2013 After hundreds of enquiries, Mr Pickles finds a new home with Gordon Pitt and Christine Harland in Buckinghamshire

September 2013 Pogdogs picks up a TV Choice Award in the Best Factual Entertainment and Lifestyle Show category

September 2013 The series is once again nominated for a National Television Award in the Factual Entertainment category

December 2013 'Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs' wins a TV Times Award in the Favourite Factual Programme category

Christmas Day 2013 Battersea brings the magic of Battersea into living rooms nationwide in the second ‘Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs at Christmas'

January 2014 They get our paws on a second National Television Award in the Best Factual Entertainment category thanks to public votes

March 2014 Battersea wins an award in the Factual Entertainment category from The Television and Radio Industries Club.