Corsham vet Gill Mullen decided to turn her dream holiday experience in America into a fundraiser for a Chippenham animal sanctuary.

Mrs Mullen, 49, who lives in The Lay, Box with her husband Joe and two children Kate, 21, and Nick, 20, is taking part in a walk from one side of the Grand Canyon to the other which is the equivalent of a marathon.

She said: “It is a dream trip for me and my husband. I have been to the Grand Canyon several times and I think it is a beautiful place so now I want to walk it. I have been training since the beginning of May several days a week.

“It is tying in with a tour around western America in September and I decided to use the experience to raise money for Cat Rescue in Chippenham as it is charity run and doesn’t get much money. I got my two cats there nine years ago.”

Mrs Mullen has worked at The Hale Veterinary surgery in Corsham for 20 years.