A HAMPSHIRE vet is taking on a series of challenges to support vulnerable children.

Caroline Loach is used to spending her days caring for scared pets that have been abandoned.

But now the 45-year-old will be running more than 80 miles in two months to support children in poverty stricken countries across the world.

She will be taking part in the Brighton Marathon and the Pony Express Ultramarathon in the New Forest to raise money for Hope.

It’s not her first marathon either as Caroline has already taken part in two others for Stubbington Ark Animal Shelter in Fareham, where she works.

She said: “It’s about helping people and animals who haven’t got the means to help themselves. They find themselves in circumstances they have had no control over and for animals and young children it’s probably quite similar because you want to give them a hand because there is nothing they can do to help themselves.

‘Worhtwhile charity’ “Hope is such a worthwhile charity which supports children across the world with grants for children living in hard conditions. I really like it because it’s one of the smaller charities where you can actually see the money going to good use to pay for food, health care, education – whatever they need.”

The mother-of-two has been working at the Ark for more than seven years and is now the proud adoptive parent of two cats and two dogs as well as numerous kittens or puppies that she monitors for intensive care.

The inspiration to help children came after Caroline discovered the charity two years ago.

She will run the Brighton marathon on Sunday before competing in the New Forest ultramarathon in May, which is a 60-mile run over two days.

Caroline added: “Training is going well, I am getting in the long distance running at weekends, my children think I’m mad but they’re very supportive and ultimately the money I raise will be used for good.

“Hope is great because they really make the most out of any money they are given, a bit like the Ark they know how to stretch their funds to make it last and be worthwhile.”

  •  To support Caroline, visit 2015brightonmarathon.everydayhero.com/uk/caroline