6:00am Tuesday 16th March 2010
A CAT LOVING Worcestershire fund-raiser is looking for your support in the run up to her final London Marathon.
Julie Draper has raised thousands for the Worcester and District branch of Cats Protection from her two previous runs in the capital.
Now the 50-year-old is appealing for people to donate as she steps up training for the 26-mile race on Sunday, April 25, in memory of two cats she lost – Sophie and Maisie.
Mrs Draper, from Sytchampton, near Worcester, said: "I had a charity place through Cats Protection for my first London Marathon in 2007. I had a super day and could have carried on running beyond the distance! I raised £2,400 for the branch that year, far beyond my minimum target.
"I ran again in 2008, but what a different year that was. I started to have back problems, my husband gave me his cold a week before the race, and I woke on marathon morning with a thumping headache and hailstones pelted me at the 23-mile mark. Despite this I raised a further £2,000 for the branch, again far more than my minimum target."
Mrs Draper, a medical secretary at Kidderminster Hospital, reluctantly pulled out of last year's race because of injury, but she is on track for this year’s event.
She said: "I have been doing OK with my training, but my knees have started to complain, despite having no knee problems previously.
“I think my body is trying to tell me something and I feel this will have to be my last full marathon.”
To donate to Mrs Draper's cause, visit justgiving.com/ maisieandsophie.
l Mrs Draper is organising a quiz as part of her fund-raising at Sytchampton Village Hall, in between Ombersley and Hartlebury on the A449, on Saturday, May 1, at 7.30pm. It is for teams of four at £3 per person. Book your team in by calling 01905 620878.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/trade_directory/