Lucy’s 24-Hour Ultra Driathlon for Destitute Animal Shelter Bolton
At the Destitute Animal Shelter here in Bolton, we’re proud to be a community built on compassion. Every single day, our dedicated staff, wonderful volunteers and kind-hearted supporters come together to help care for the lost, stray and unwanted dogs and cats who need us most. With a non-destruction policy and a commitment to neutering every animal we rehome, we strive to reduce the number of unwanted pets in Bolton, and to give every animal the chance to find their forever home.
Today, we want to shine a spotlight on one of our amazing volunteers, Lucy, and the incredible challenge she recently took on to support the shelter.
From Volunteer to Fundraiser Extraordinaire
Lucy has been volunteering with us for nearly a year, giving her time, energy and love to the dogs and cats in our care. Earlier this year, she adopted Hugo, her “little furry buddy,” who first came to us in January. Like so many of our rehomed pets, Hugo found his forever family thanks to the support of people like you.
But Lucy decided she wanted to go one step further.
“It was time I did something a bit extra to help the shelter out,” Lucy said. “And I wanted it to be something I’d never done before, and probably never will again!”
The 24-Hour Ultra Driathlon Challenge
On 8th November, Lucy teamed up with her incredible friends Vicki, Rick and Dom to take on the unthinkable- a 24-hour Ultra Driathlon at Performance 58 Gym.
That meant:
8 hours of skiing
8 hours of biking
8 hours of rowing
And a massive goal of 24,000 calories in 24 hours!
It was a challenge that tested their determination, stamina and spirit to the absolute limit. But they did it, every last minute, every last mile, every last calorie; all in the name of helping the animals at our shelter.
A Huge Achievement!
From 7am to 7am, Lucy and her team pushed through exhaustion, muscle burn and sleeplessness, powered only by grit, teamwork and their shared love for animals.
And the result? They absolutely smashed it!
Not only did they complete the full 24 hours, but they also raised over £1,800 for the shelter through their JustGiving page. Every penny of that goes directly towards:
veterinary care,
food and warm beds, and
the ongoing love and care that every one of our cats and dogs deserves.
We also want to send a special thank you to Kevin Connolly, owner of Performance 58, for providing the team with his amazing facilities and for supporting them every step (and row, and pedal, and pull!) of the way.
From All of Us, Thank You!
Lucy, Vicki, Rick and Dom, we are so incredibly proud of you. What you’ve achieved is nothing short of amazing, and your dedication truly represents the heart of our shelter.
To everyone who donated and cheered them on, thanks to you too! Your kindness helps us continue our vital work for Bolton’s lost, stray and unwanted pets.
Every act of support, no matter how small, makes a huge difference. Whether it’s volunteering, donating, fundraising or simply sharing our stories, you are helping us give every animal a chance at a better life.
If you’d like to support Lucy’s fundraising or learn more about how you can help, visit the JustGiving page!
Or learn more about what we do at the Destitute Animal Shelter by visiting our website or following us on Facebook.
Together, we can make tails wag and hearts happy, one rescue at a time.
