Triathlon for dog shelter

A group of young people taking part in a charity triathlon to raise money for abandonded dogs

The teenagers - all aged between 15 and 17 - raised a total of £615 for the Jerry Green Dog Rescue, which has a kennel in Blidworth.

They completed the mammoth charity ordeal at the Oasis Health Clun, in Portland Street, as part of a programme organised by the National Citizen Service (NCS).

Participants also called on local businesses, asking for donations of dog treats and toys for them to take to the shelter.

Participant Ben Machin said that in total the group completed 260 miles - the distance between Mansfield and Glasgow, where the Commonwealth Games took place recently.

“It was a four-week program and the first week was spent team building as most of the group didn’t know each-other,” he said.

“We did climbing, caving, and completed a really, really long walk, and the second week was spent at Portland College.”

The triathlon was completed as part of a social action project, which was carried out over the remaining two weeks of the programme.

From the total raised, £200 was spent on treats, toys and blankets for the dogs currently housed at the shelter, and the remainder was donated to a renovation project at the Warsop Lane charity.

NCS team leader Chloe Collins said the group also organised a collection for Mansfield’s Hall Homeless Support, gathering together donated clothing , which they sold to purchase toiletries and food, as well as donating items from home.