By Andy Hirst, Special Correspondent

People have been urged to walk, run, cycle or even spend hours on a treadmill at home to raise badly-needed funds for the RSPCA this March.

The charity’s Halifax, Huddersfield and Bradford Branch has challenged people to do some kind of exercise and turn it into a sponsored event to raise at least £20.

It’s called Best Paw Forward – you can certainly take your dog with you on a sponsored walk – and an RSPCA spokeswoman said: “Best Paw Forward is an active challenge that you can walk, run, cycle or exercise in any way you like to help raise funds and awareness for the animals in the RSPCA Halifax, Huddersfield and Bradford branch.

“You pick your distance, method and pace which can be part of your daily exercise or a personal goal. All we ask is that you raise some funds for the animals in our centre while you do it.”

Here’s how you do it in 3 simple steps:

* Pick your distance – 10 miles, 20 miles or 30 miles.

* Choose your method – walking, running, cycling or however you want to cover the miles which could be laps of your garden, walking your dog or even exercising on the treadmill.

* Record your miles using the Strava App, a Fitbit, pedometer or any other step count method that suits you.

Pluto (above) fetches the paper. Main image by: Humphrey Muleba on Unsplash

The RSPCA Halifax, Huddersfield and Bradford Branch rehabilitates, cares for and finds loving homes for the many abandoned, neglected or mistreated animals brought in by RSPCA inspectors.

The challenge must be completed by March 31 and all entrants who raise a minimum of £20 sponsorship will be sent a special RSPCA medal. All dog walkers will be awarded a goodie bag for their canine companion.

It’s just £3 to register which can be paid via the RSPCA website.

Once you have paid your registration fee you’ll be sent all the details needed to get started.

For more information email fundraising@rspcahalifaxhuddersfieldbradford.org.uk or call Michelle on 07908 478956.

Pic caption: Why not take your dog on a sponsored walk for the RSPCA Photo by Humphrey Muleba on Unsplash.

* Written by former Huddersfield Examiner Head of Content Andy Hirst who now runs his own Huddersfield-based agency AH! PR https://ah-pr.com/ specialising in press releases, blogging and copywriting for business in Yorkshire and across the UK.