A GROUP of local women are busy training for one of the largest road runs in the country, to raise money for Monmouth charity, the Society for the Welfare of Horses and Ponies (SWHP).

The team, all closely linked with the charity, are striving to reach their £500 goal, whilst preparing for the Lloyds Bank Cardiff Half Marathon, held on 4th October.

Ann Walker from Monmouth and Emma Welham from Crickhowell, both staff at SWHP, will be joined by Amy-Lee Burroughs from Cwmbran and Victoria Hallifax from Chepstow, who both have adopted horses from the charity.

The race, which attracts thousands of runners and fundraisers each year, is 13.1 miles and is no mean feat for the novice runners, who have tackled nothing like this before.

Ann Walker said: “I’m terrified! But we’ve been training really hard and I’m so grateful to everyone who is supporting us.”

The much-needed money will be going towards SWHP’s winter feed appeal, that helps animals who wouldn’t have otherwise had a chance, to survive the harshest months of the year.

Horses like Elmo, pictured, who came to the charity in an emaciated condition.

The charity often has hundreds of hungry mouths to feed, not only a farm jam-packed in St Maughans, Monmouth, but staff also take hay and medical care as far as Gelligaer Common in Caerphilly and beyond to help the many horses abandoned on the hill-sides.

To donate to the cause, visit the Beacon office to fill in a sponsorship form, call the charity on 01600 712142 or email [email protected]