A Swindon dog lover is preparing to tackle the Great Wall of China to raise money for the Dogs Trust.
Peggy-Sue Ford was inspired to take on the challenge by her rescue dog, Jack, a Collie Springer Cross, who she and her wife, Chloe, adopted nine years ago.
She will take on the trek in August, but will be putting in hundreds of miles of training before then, as well as doing specific challenges, the first of which is later this month when she will take on the 42km Winter Walk Full Marathon in London.
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After that, she will do the Bath Skyline 10k and in the summer the Race to the Stones 50km walk from Wantage to Avebury.
Then she will leave Jack and Chloe behind to head to China for the nine-day adventure which will include five days of hiking along the iconic structure, covering 47km.
To support Peggy-Sue, visit justgiving.com/page/lovablerogue.
Peggy-Sue said: “Jack had a really tough start in life.
“We were his third home so at less than a year old he‘d been through a lot, but with us he found his forever home.
“He may be ten now, but he hasn’t slowed down, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
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“He loves to play, especially tug of war with his rope toys, and as he has so much energy he will be joining me for a lot of my training.
“I will be 45 this year so I decided I wanted to do something spectacular and also raise money, so I chose a trek of the Great Wall of China, and Dogs Trust as my charity as they care for thousands of dogs just like Jack every year and find them their perfect homes.”
“I’ve never flown that far let alone walked in such an unknown environment, but it will all be worth it.
“We can’t imagine our life without Jack, and we know that thousands of dogs every year just need to be given a second, or third as in Jack’s case, chance to find the family that suits them best.
“I will be thinking of him every step of the way and know he’ll be waiting at the door wagging his tail as fast as it will go to welcome me home.
“That will spur me on.”
Tristan Lathey, community fundraising officer at Dogs Trust, said: “I think what Peggy-Sue has committed to doing this year is incredible.
“Without supporters like Peggy-Sue we couldn’t do what we do for our dogs.
“We rely entirely on donations and fundraising events like Peggy-Sue is undertaking are crucial, so we want to say a huge thank you to her.”
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