A Birchington couple will take on a 24 hour, 100km (around 62 miles) walk next month to raise funds for Cats Protection charity.
Mark Field, who works at SNS IT installation company in the village, and partner Tineka Lashmar who is head veterinary nurse at Vets 4 Pets in Wincheap, will take part in the South Coast 100km ultra challenge, walking from Eastbourne to Arundel on September 2-3.
The couple have been together for almost two years and are keen walkers, often holidaying in Scotland for the walking routes.
In preparation for the ultra challenge Mark and Tineka have been walking 6km each evening, extending this to 50km on Saturdays and 30km on Sundays.
Mark, 36, said: “Every evening we walk at least 6km around Minnis and Reculver. Last weekend we walked from Ramsgate to Fordwich and Minnis to Reculver, Plucks Gutter and then Fordwich and Monkton. We are going to run out of trainers soon!”
Mark is a cat lover and Tineka, 47, works with Cats Protection through the veterinary surgery.
Mark said: “Cats Protection is a self-funded charity. Tineka works closely with the charity and we are doing it for them as they are not government funded.”
Tineka has taken part in the ultra challenge once before but this is Mark’s first time. The course is completed is 24 hours with checkpoints along the route offering water, food and facilities.
Mark and Tineka need to raise £650 for the charity to secure their places.
Cats Protection helps an average of 157,000 cats and kittens every year thanks to its network of more than 210 volunteer-run branches and 34 centres. The charity, established in 1927, works to home, neuter and treat cats as well as making sure it shares useful information.