A Dogs Trust foster carer is going the extra mile for the dogs she loves by running her first ever marathon to raise money for the charity.
Alex Jones and her partner Mike Evans started fostering dogs when they began working from home during the first Covid lockdown and have gone on to foster six dogs of all shapes and sizes for the charity.
But this year Alex decided she wanted to do more to help the dogs in need and will be taking to the streets of Manchester on 16th April to join thousands of others running, jogging or walking the Manchester Marathon.
32-year-old Alex, who works as a solicitor, says:
“Dogs Trust is getting more requests than ever from people who can no longer care for their dogs, often because they can’t afford to keep them due to the cost of living. As a dog lover I find it absolutely heart-breaking that people are finding themselves in this situation.
“We love fostering dogs but this year I decided I wanted to do something extra and before I knew it, I’d signed up for the Manchester Marathon! I only started running in the last couple of years and the training is hard, but knowing that every penny I raise will go towards helping the dogs being cared for by Dogs Trust, will be worth it.”
Since becoming foster carers Alex and Mike have welcomed a Collie, a Greyhound, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, a German Shepherd Cross and two Bulldogs into their home and hope to welcome many more in the future.
Kim Rowlands, Co-ordinator of the Dogs Trust Merseyside Home from Home fostering scheme, says:
“Alex and Mike are fantastic foster carers and we can’t believe Alex has taken on such a huge challenge to help our dogs!
“We would love more people to sign up to become foster carers, but we don‘t expect them to take on a marathon too! The more foster carers we have the more dogs we can care for and we are busier than ever so anyone that would love to welcome a dog into their home whilst they wait to find their forever family, please do get in touch.”
If you would like to support Alex and Dogs Trust please go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/alexandra-jones22
To find out more about the dogs waiting for forever homes at Dogs Trust, or about how to become a foster carer, please go to www.dogstrust.org.uk Dogs Trust provides foster carers with everything they may need for the dog in their care, including food, bedding and toys, and will cover the cost of any necessary vet bills. Its Home from Home team is always on hand to provide support to fosterers.
