Miles for Mouths and Smiles - What it's all about.

Every year I do a December fundraising for the animals at the Sanctuary. Last year it was 52 miles on Christmas Eve to represent the 52 weeks of a year the gang requires caring for and all the expense and effort that goes into doing just that. During December I also tend to like to raise the spirits of others and have taken to donning an Elf hat for my Xmas runs. It's just a tradition which started years ago and has stuck. I know it brings a smile to people's faces as I had first hand experience of this during the pandemic. At a time when many people were shielding from others and extremely lonely and disconnected with the outer world I have been told it brought much cheer to many to see the little 'running Elf' pass by waving at locals looking out of their window at the world only able to watch the world go by from behind the glass.

So this year I have decided to take things one step (or many steps) further and run over 500 plus miles in December to represent the 500 plus mouths we are dedicated to caring for at the Sanctuary all year round. Not only that but I will be doing many of my runs in festive costumes - snowman, Xmas tree, Elf - in an attempt to bring a smile to onlookers and passersby faces. They do say there is no better medicine or tonic than a smile or laughter and I hope that by seeing someone doing their best to help others it may bring some joy and warmth into the lives of those around me. Just that eye to eye connection of another person - even for a fleeting moment - can mean so much when often we are lost in a screen of some sort or another too absorbed to look up and see the beauty around us. So as you can see, it's not just about raising money for the gang, it's about raising spirits and goodwill because ultimately 'health is true wealth' and without it we have nothing. Deteriorating mental health is such a huge issue at the moment but then we can talk about physical health. It is said we only use a fraction of our brain's capacity and I believe that to be true of our physical potential too. It's about promoting veganism - 50 years vegan of it to be precise. Visibly illustrating I am not just surviving but thriving - motivated, inspired and stimulated to keep going in the belief that a better world can be achieved for all and not some if only we could adopt this lifestyle stance globally, in all its glory and with all its many positives and benefits. It's about being kind to yourself, each other, the environment and, of course, the animals. With peace on your plate, charity in your spirit, belief in your mind and love in your heart anything can be achieved.  

Hopefully, Miles for Mouths will bring motivation to people to consider a vegan lifestyle if they are not already invested. It will bring some joy and laughter into people's lives, it will encourage them to get involved helping other organisations and Charities out there struggling and striving to make a positive difference for others and raise much needed for the residents at the Sanctuary. It's about so much more than just raising money but ultimately it's about promoting all I have ever believed in - do the least harm, the most good and be the best possible version of yourself in the hope of positively benefiting others.