Sheffield cat lover Cameron's 50-mile run challenge for pet rescue charity

Cameron McQueen, who is co-founder of Turning Point Brew Co, a micro-brewery in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, adopted a cat a year ago from The Sheffield Cats Shelter in Broomhall but the pet died recently.

Supporters of the cat shelter cheered Cameron on when he made his first stop near Meadowhall during the run on June 12.

Cameron said: “After speaking with them when we adopted our little lad, we found out just how much of a financial constraint they are under, and how many cats are being rescued every day.

“I would like to use this challenge to raise some money for them, because they are truly an awesome shelter run by great people.

"You may be able to glean some irony from this as I am historically... not a cat lover! My mind has been changed!”

He has surpassed his initial target of raising £500 and his total currently stands at more than £1800.

Cameron described the cat shelter as a “truly an awesome shelter run by great people.”

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The shelter, which will celebrate its 125th anniversary next year, says it has been badly affected by the pandemic.

A spokeswoman said: “We had to close our shelter to the public and do remote adoptions; we had to run on skeleton staff due to COVID restrictions; our two shops had to close, cutting off our main source of income.

"Cats and kittens still had to be cared for. Vet bills still had to be paid. Medication and food still had to be provided to ensure our cats were cared for and got the love, help and TLC they deserved.

“If it wasn’t for people like Cameron, we would not be here today. The generosity of our supporters during the various lockdowns ensured we are still here to fight another day!”

The shops in Ecclesall and Hillsborough have now reopened. For information on the charity, go to thesheffieldcatsshelter.org or follow them on social media.

To donate to Cameron’s appeal, visit his online fundraising page at justgiving.com/fundraising/cameron-mcqueen

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