A NORTH Yorkshire cat-lover is in the final stages of training as she prepares to run the London Marathon in aid of charity.

Juliette Brown-Forden, of Norton, hopes to raise £1,000 for the Pickering & District branch of the Cats Protection League by completing the gruelling 26-mile run on Sunday, April 18.

Branch spokeswoman Marina Dowson, who runs a shelter in Norton, said: "The Fordens are a well-known local family. They're great cat people - they have about six cats of their own, and have won prizes at shows."

Marina said: "Juliette has kindly appeared out of the blue and said she would like to attempt to run the London Marathon to raise money for the local branch of the Cats Protection League."

She said firms in Malton, Norton and the surrounding area had responded very well to Juliette's appeal for sponsorship, and she was also seeking individual sponsors.

"Because we had a bad summer last year, we weren't able to raise money by holding car boot sales like we normally do," Marina said.

"This year, we're still looking after cats following the floods because their owners have been forced to move out of their homes. We had 15 cats in all."

l Anyone who wishes to sponsor Juliette Brown-Forden's marathon fundraising bid should telephone her on 01653 693790.

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