A BIG-HEARTED dog lover has raised more than £1,000 for an animal charity after smashing a running challenge.

Lucy West, from Maldon, is over the moon after beating her target by more than £800.

Fitness fanatic Lucy pledged to run five kilometres every day for a week to raise funds for a charity close to her heart – Battersea Dogs Home.

The charity, which has been going for more than 170 years, works to protect and care for stray and lost dogs.

Lucy decided to take part in the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home fundraising week.

She surpassed her £200 target, and raised an impressive £1,026, despite picking up a knee injury on the last day.

Lucy also runs Happy Hearts Exercise classes for the over-50s in Maldon, Woodham Ferrers, Great Baddow and Wickham Bishops.

She says Battersea Dogs Home is close to her heart after adopting her own rescue dog – Middy.

Lucy said: “In pre-Covid times Happy Hearts Exercise took part in fundraising events such charity walks for various charities over the years.

Maldon and Burnham Standard:

  • Lucy on a run by the waterfront

“As this is not possible at the moment, I decided to take part in Battersea Cats and Dogs Home fundraising week.

“It was tough and quite hot as well.

“On the first day I thought ‘Oh my God’ because I’d forgotten how far five kilometres was.

“I decided to fundraise for Battersea as they do such great work caring for and rehoming cats and dogs.

“My dog Middy is a rescue dog and she’s wonderful. She decided not to join me running as she is 13 years old, but she provided great encouragement.

“This was the first time I’d ever raised money for an animal charity so I wasn’t sure how it would do, but it got a really good response.

“Most of the donations came from Happy Hearts class members.”

To donate to the findraiser, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/lucymiddy.