I’ve shared bits of my story but I’ve never really said why I started or why I’ve stuck to it. Why is this time different?

My dog, Dasher. He’s the reason.

He was 7 when we rescued him. We weren’t looking for a dog but he found us, and he brought us years of love and chaos.

His official name was Dasher, it was Dash when we got him. But over the years he’d also answer to Rasher, Rash, Ash, Ashwa and also the occasional expletive!

He loved prosecco on a Saturday night

& porridge on a Sunday morning.

We had sunrise photoshoots in the park

Watched shark films together and shared hula hoops.

He’d chase his tail to make us laugh.

He’d close the doors if he didn’t want them open.

He loved sunbathing until he couldn’t breathe from the heat.

He hated the rain but would play in water all day long.

He was the most loving, loyal best friend you could ever wish for.

In April 2024, he went over the rainbow bridge.

Heartache doesn’t even begin to describe it. It was the worst time of my life.

But losing Rasher made me turn my life around. I read something that stuck with me:

‘If you’re struggling after losing your dog, and finding it hard to do anything right now. Please remember to take care of the thing that mattered most to them… You.’

And that’s where my journey began.

I’m running the Manchester Half Marathon to raise money for all the other staffies that I can’t bring home.

I’ve never asked for anything like this before, but if anybody would please like to donate, or maybe skip a coffee one morning for Rashers fund it would mean so, so much. And it’ll give me an extra reason not to quit!

Thank you for supporting me and my mad ideas, and for reading this far!! You’re helping me keep Rasher’s memory alive ❤️