PDSA challenge.

What do the trucker, the nurse; the housewife and the lollipop man have in common? They've all risen to the PDSA Challenge of a Lifetime to raise cash for poorly pets.

Proposing marriage on the back of an elephant, charming a deadly snake or braving the first public convenience in Asia... There's nothing 'ordinary' about a PDSA Challenge of a Lifetime, except the people that take part. PDSA 'challengers' come from all walks of life, are aged from 18 to 85 and have just one thing in common: They've all taken the opportunity to pull on a sturdy pair of shoes, leave the day job behind for a little while and raise money for pets in need of vets.

This year, PDSA Challenge of a Lifetime opportunities include cycling from London to Paris, walking historic Hadrian's Wall, trekking through the magical island of Sri Lanka and a spectacular visit to the ancient land of Vietnam. So if you've ever dreamt of faraway travel and exploration or you're simply looking for the chance to achieve a significant personal goal and make a very real difference to the lives of thousands of pets and their families, PDSA can help you turn those dreams into reality.
In return, your energy and enthusiasm will help PDSA treat thousands of sick and injured pets every day. Sponsorship targets start at just £350. To date, participants in PDSA Challenges have raised more than £64,000.

Lynda Marsden has seen the benefit of taking part in three PDSA Challenges. She comments; "I've seen and done some amazing things; walking the Great Wall of China and trekking across Peru. But the most satisfying moment is seeing the impact your fundraising has on the lives of sick and injured animals."

But heroes don't always need super human resources of energy, there's a challenge to suit every ability, and fundraising help and encouragement all the way, as Linda Abel, a housewife from Northampton found out. "At a difficult point in my life, PDSA helped me to achieve my goals, from losing 2 stone to raise the money I needed to get on the trIP, to encouraging me along every step in the Great Wall. I felt a huge sense of achievement and returned from China a much stronger person, with twenty-eight great friends that I made along the way!"

PDSA is now recruiting participants for its four Challenge of a Lifetime trips in 2004:

•    London to Paris. Keen cyclists are invited to take part in a five-day bike challenge from London to Paris from 23-27 June 2004. A 285mile route will take cyclists from Greenwich, through the Kent countryside to Dover, then from Calais to Abbeville to Beauvais and finally to Paris. Sights will include beautiful countryside, landmarks from WW2 as well as the distinctive monuments of Paris. A registration fee of £150 is required for this trip plus a minimum sponsorship target of £1,000

•    Hadrian's Wall Walk. The second challenge is walking along the remaining sections of Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland National Park from 30th July to 1st August 2004. Children over the age of 12 and dogs capable of the 35 mile trek are also welcome to take part. The minimum sponsorship requirement for this challenge is £350 (£165 for children aged 12-16)

•    Sri Lanka Adventure. After the popularity of the Sri Lanka cycling challenge in 2003, PDSA will be returning to this tropical teardrop island in the Indian Ocean for a trek from 11-18 September 2004. This nine day walk will take in sights such as the cave temples of Dambulla and the Temple of the Tooth Relic. The minimum sponsorship target will be £2,015

•    Trek Vietnam. This nine-day tour in October 2004 offers some of Vietnam's most spectacular scenery though pristine jungle, across ancient mountain passes and through friendly villages which have remained unchanged for many years. The minimum sponsorship target will be £2,250 For further information on any of these challenges free phone 0800 917 2509, log on to www.pdsa.org.uk or email

_{source Your Dog Mag.}