ANIMAL lovers Kelsie Seddon and Alice Bishop donned their running shoes to raise more than £130 for the RSPCA.

Kelsie, aged eight, and nine-year-old Alice live in Lostock Gralam, and are best friends.

They saw an advert on television about the work the RSPCA does, and decided to try to raise some money for the charity.

Kelsie started to make leaflets to publicise the girls’ fundraising efforts before her mum Rachel suggested contacting the organisation, which sent out a fundraising pack, complete with RSPCA bibs and a collecting tin.

They donned their bibs for a sponsored lap of Marbury Park, during which passers-by gave them donations, and have sold loom bands over the past three months.

Kelsie has been bitten by the fundraising bug following the success of the RSPCA events, and is now looking to raise money for the National Deaf Society.

“The lap they did of the park worked out to three kilometres, and with the money in the collecting tin they are likely to have raised at least £130, which is amazing,” said Rachel.

“It doesn’t seem a lot to adults, but for children it’s an amazing amount of money.

“They wanted to raise £100 for the charity, and got sponsorship from family, friends, neighbours and people on the local estate.

“It’s the first time Kelsie has raised money for a charity, and I’m so proud of her, especially as she did everything off her own back.

“She absolutely loves animals, and we have two dogs, two guinea pigs and a parrot.”

Kelsie and Alice are pupils at Lostock Gralam Primary School, and were accompanied on their lap of Marbury Park by Kelsie’s dad David and her sister Alisha, 10.

“Kelsie and Alice want to thank everyone who sponsored them, and the people who put money in the collecting box when they were running,” added Rachel.

“They also want to thank everyone who bought a loom band, and David and Alisha, who got roped into running with them.”

Anyone wanting a free copy of the RSPCA’s fundraising pack can visit the charity’s website and complete a form.