A veterinary nurse is trading her scrubs for running shoes to participate in this year's London Marathon to raise money for the PDSA.

Chloe Mackintosh, from Rayleigh, aims to quite literally go the extra mile (or 26) for the pets she looks after, using the marathon on April 21 as her platform to give back.

Apart from being a vital member of staff as the head vet nurse at Romford PDSA Pet Hospital, Chloe is also passionate about the cause she’s supporting.

She said: "I started my career at PDSA, training to become a Vet Nurse, since then I’ve worked my way up to Head Vet Nurse, and now I’m about to leave to go to the Royal Veterinary College to train to become a Veterinary Surgeon."

"I’ve always wanted to do some sort of challenge and raise money for this amazing cause, and this year felt the right time to do it.

"The service PDSA offers is a lifeline to pets and owners who, without it, would have nowhere else to turn.

"I'm so proud to be running for PDSA and to be raising important funds and awareness of this organisation that I am so proud to work for."

Chloe has already reached more than £1,300, thanks to donations from friends and family.

Romford PDSA Pet Hospital, officially known as the Julie and Robert Breckman Centre, is one of 49 PDSA Pet Hospitals across the country which extends low-cost and free veterinary care to ill pets in need.

In 2023, the hospital on Danes Road treated nearly 100 pets daily.

Faye Waters, fundraising manager at PDSA, said: "We’re all so thankful to Chloe for supporting PDSA at this year’s London Marathon.

"Her generous fundraising efforts will enable us to continue our life-saving work, treating pets whose owners have nowhere else to turn.

"It is thanks to the incredible support of kind-hearted people like Chloe that we are able to provide vital treatment for poorly animals and make a real difference to their owners."

To assist Chloe on her marathon journey, donations can be made through her JustGiving page at justgiving.com/fundraising/chloe-mackintosh1.