New for Waggy Walks 2011: two new walks and running your own

It's getting to the time of year when we grab our trainers and head out to a local park to have a healthy stroll and raise money for dogs. This year the big date is October 2nd.

In case you're new to Waggy Walks, it's an annual sponsored walk with both 5k and 10k route options, so anyone can join in.

You simply find your nearest walk, register and set about getting people to sponsor you. Dogs are welcome but anyone, owner or not, can take part and creative costumes are also great, though not required.

This year we've added two new walk locations - Stockton-on-Tees and Canterbury - to bring the total up to twelve, and the option to set up your own walk if you're not near one. So you could even do a walk if you're not in the UK, although if that's the case please drop us a line before you do.

Can't make it, not able to set up your own but still want to show your support? There's always the option to sponsor our mascot dog. This year it's golden oldie Barnes, who's determined to beat the £4,235 raised by Otis in 2010.

Everything you need to know is on the Waggy Walks website, so please do register and come and join us in making it the biggest, best event yet.

Photo: Brilliant young volunteers help us out in Glasgow at Waggy Walks 2010.

Eager dog walkers needed for St. Mungo's charity walk

We've received the following message from the lovely folks at St. Mungo's. Although they're not an animal charity, they are seeking dog walkers for their latest fundraising drive and asked us if we could help spread the word. Only too happy to do so! And in case you're wondering what Dogs Trust has to do with homelessness, do read more about our Hope Project.

The release is as follows:

Put on your walking shoes, switch off the World Cup coverage and hit the streets with your canine companion on Sunday 20 June to help St Mungo's support homeless people on their journey back into work.

To kick start its Action Week (20-27 June), St Mungo's is asking people to step up and take part in a five mile Action Week Walk.

The theme of this year's Action Week is Just the Job - supporting homeless people's journey back to work.

This is the charity's third annual sponsored walk but the first time it will head into the City of London. The walk starts and finishes at St John's Church in Waterloo, where St Mungo's homeless volunteers help tend the church gardens. The route then links in with other areas where St Mungo's provides homelessness services in Southwark, Lambeth and Westminster.

Last year more than 160 people joined in our Action Week Walk to support our campaign to improve the mental health of homeless people. Not only did we raise £15,000, but we also made the Government take action by including homeless people in their new strategy for improving mental health services to people in the UK.

This year the charity is hoping for 300 people to sign up and boost funds for its Pathways to Employment programme which supports activities, education, training and work opportunities for St Mungo's hostel residents.

Tanya English, Executive Director for Fundraising and Communications, said:

"Only 4% of our residents are currently working. Some of our clients have not worked in a decade, and others not at all.

"The money raised by generous supporters and donors on this year's walk will go towards supporting St Mungo's clients on their journey of recovery and into work. By taking part in this Action Week Walk, you are actively helping someone to walk away from their old life and towards a new one.

"It's also Father's Day so perhaps an opportunity to get dad away from the World Cup for a while to do something active in a worthy cause!"

How you can show your support for Action Week:

• Sign up for the St Mungo's 2010 Action Week Walk. Registration is £12 in advance or £15 on the day, under 16s (and dogs!) walk for free. A free T-shirt is provided, as well as a lunch pack when you finish, kindly donated by Pret a Manger

• Sponsor St Mungo's resident Jamie and his dog to do the walk

• Show your support by shopping at the St Mungo's online gift shop

• Find out more about St Mungo's Just the Job Action Week 2010, other events and ways to show your support.

Will you go walkies with Dogs Trust?

It's time to strap on the trainers and shake out your legs, but don't worry if, like me, the thought of running even 5km makes your muscles wobble and tears leak out of your eyes... Dogs Trust has come up with a fundraising event that gets everyone moving outdoors, but that doesn't require much time on the treadmill.

Waggy Walks will be taking place in October in ten locations across the UK. You don't even need a dog to take part! You just have to get creative.

You can dress up as a dog or bring along a toy dog if you don't have one of your own. Jacqui and I will be at the London Finsbury Park event and being cat owners are debating if we can convince our partners to walk on a collar and lead with us...! You can decide on the day whether you're up for the longer six-mile walk or shorter three-mile option. Find out more by visiting the Waggy Walks website.

The locations are: Bath, Belfast, Brighton, Cardiff, Coventry, Darlington, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool and London.

If you're not able to come along to an event you can still take part and help Dogs Trust raise vital funds to care for thousands of dogs every year. You can sponsor the Mascot Dog, who still doesn't have a name. This three-legged wonder is an active fellow who'll be taking on the six-mile challenge in London with us. There is still time to contribute your ideas for his new title and we'll be very grateful for any pennies you can send his way,too.