Lexi the rescue dog will take part in 26 minutes of ball catching per day as part of the 2.6 challenge event which aims to save the UK’s charities during the coronavirus crisis
Lexi the rescue dog is set to take part in 26 minutes of ball catching every day for a week to encourage animal lovers in Sussex to take part in the 2.6 challenge and raise much-needed funds for the animal welfare charity.
The week-long challenge kicks off on Sunday, 26 April, when the London Marathon would have held its 40th annual event and asks participants to do a challenge around the number 2.6 or 26.
Every year the London Marathon raises over £25,000 for the RSPCA and is a vital source of income for many charities. To help raise money in these challenging times the RSPCA is asking kind supporters to take on a 2.6 challenge, maybe something animal themed, to help the thousands of animals in its care and being rescued every day.
RSPCA South Godstone helped to rehome Lexi, a rottweiler and staffie cross, nine years ago to Kara Attwood, Compliance Officer for the RSPCA who lives in Horsham in Sussex. Lexi was one of a litter of 10 puppies who was rehomed when their owner couldn’t cope with the unexpected litter.
Kara said: “We’ve been together since she was a little over a year old and she’s now an overgrown puppy at the age of 10. She has many things that she enjoys, chasing anything on wheels, barking at squirrels out of windows, going for a trip out in the car, meeting her friends, both two and four legged! I take Lexi to work with me in Southwater several times a week and she is missing all her friends in the office due to the lockdown at the moment, so we have been doing lots of playtime instead. She’s so good at catching her ball that I decided this could be the perfect way to do our bit to help the RSPCA.”
To support Kara and Lexi, donate here.
The charity is also asking other RSPCA supporters in the area to come up with their own fun challenge to raise vital funds.
Ideas include:
- A 2.6k run in an animal onesie
- As many bunny hops as possible in 26 seconds
- 26 ball catches with your dog
- 26 or 2.6 stair climbs with your pet
- A 2.6k dog walk
- Running 26 times round your garden dressed as an animal
The RSPCA is continuing to care for thousands of animals during the Coronavirus pandemic and its frontline staff, which have been designated key workers, are continuing to rescue many more. RSPCA South Godstone currently has 73 animals in its care.
The RSPCA is facing a huge financial strain as it is already seeing the damaging effect of this crisis on its fundraising income, while the costs of saving, treating and caring for animals continue.
The RSPCA currently has more than 4,000 animals in its care (4,112 as of Friday 17 April). We have taken in more than 600 animals since the lockdown came into effect on Monday, March 23 and expect to take in many more over the coming weeks.
What you need to do
- Pick a challenge (make sure it’s something you can do safely, while observing social distancing)
- Go to the RSPCA 2.6 challenge Just Giving Page and set up a fundraising page or make a donation
- Tell your friends and family about it, maybe challenge them to do their own
- Post about it on social media to spread the word even further
- Then get ready to join thousands of others to do your challenge, starting Sunday, April 26!
For more information visit: https://www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/fundraise/26challenge
To help the RSPCA keep rescuing animals like these and keep our animal hospitals and centres running for emergency treatment and round the clock care through these unprecedented times, please donate whatever you can spare at www.rspca.org.uk/covid