A Llandogo dog lover is pounding the pavements in preparation for taking on the Cardiff Half Marathon next month to raise money for dogs in need, in memory of her own dog who passed away in January. 

 With just a month to go,  49-year-old Clara Jellings is running, cycling and walking 100 miles every week to get ready for the event on 6 October and she says it will be the thoughts of her beloved rescue dog, Flynn, that will keep her going if she starts to find it tough. 

She said that Flynn was the first rescue dog, “and he was fantastic. We adopted him from Dogs Trust Evesham when he was around a year old, and we had a wonderful thirteen years with him. Sadly, he developed several health issues last year and we had to let him go in January. 

 “He was such a character and I miss him every single day. He wasn’t the easiest of dogs at first because he was very wary of people so we met him lots of times at Dogs Trust Evesham so we could build a bond with him. He was full of energy and used to bounce around and we just knew he needed a loving home, so that’s what we gave him. 

 “Losing him has been so difficult so I wanted to do something in memory of him and decided to train for the Cardiff Half Marathon and raise money for Dogs Trust.”   

 The Cardiff Half Marathon is now one of Europe’s largest half marathons attracting more than 27,500 runners. The challenge begins outside Cardiff Castle and takes in some of the city’s iconic landmarks including the castle, Principality Stadium and Cardiff Bay.  

 Holly Grant, Community Fundraising Officer at Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, says: 

 “It’s thanks to supporters like Clara that we can make sure our dogs get everything they need whilst they are with us. We look after around 14,000 dogs every year and we will take care of them for as long as it takes to find their forever homes, whether that is weeks, months or years. 

 “Sadly, in recent years we have seen more owners than ever having to make the heart-breaking decision to hand over their dogs to us, so knowing we have supporters like Clara fills us with hope as we know we will be able to do everything we can to help thousands of dogs enjoy a new life with a new family.” 

 Clara says Flynn loved going on holiday with her and her husband Stuart, enjoying exploring everywhere from France to the Isle of Wight and particularly the beaches of Wales. 

She says: “He loved going out on adventures. His rugby ball was his favourite thing and he’d play fetch with it for hours on the beach. He was a great companion at home too, especially when I worked from home during the pandemic.   

“He was cheeky and full of fun and we have so many wonderful memories of great times with him from the moment we adopted him. 

 "It will be Flynn that will keep my legs moving if I start to find it tough. He gave us so much love and I will always love him. He will never be forgotten. I’m doing this in memory of Flynn and for other dogs in need as they all deserve to be loved and to be at the heart of families, just like Flynn was.”