Earlier this year I spoke to long-term supporter of The Donkey Sanctuary Patrick Rice, who was preparing mentally and physically to run the Paris Marathon. Now, an amazing £2,109 of sponsorship and several weeks of well-earned rest later, Patrick talks us through his first marathon.

When ten year old donkey James was rescued after being found abandoned in Coleraine, Northern Ireland last September, he was in a pretty poor way. His neglect had left him struggling to walk on his painfully long, twisted and cracked hooves, and you could see that he was by no means a happy donkey.

I recently received an email that made me squeal with delight – two gorgeous foals had been born at one of our outlying farms near Sidmouth. As we have a no-breeding policy here at The Donkey Sanctuary, the birth of a single foal is a very exciting event, but two healthy young foals is a major cause for celebration.

Seven months ago, Johnny's sad story made him a bit of a household name as the national press in Northern Ireland made him headline news. He was found abandoned in the Mourne Mountains last August, and had agonisingly long and twisted hooves that may not have been trimmed for as long as two years. Johnny was in a pretty sorry state when we rescued him and gave him a sanctuary for life.

Earlier this week I was speaking to Elma Cunningham, our welfare officer based in South Lanarkshire, about the amazing fundraising efforts of a group of students at a local school where she is also Principal Teacher of Business Studies.

I have always found spending time with the donkeys to be incredibly therapeutic, and enjoyed my first ‘medicinal’ close encounters with donkeys as a volunteer with The Donkey Sanctuary just a few years back. Last week I popped down to Ivybridge to see some real donkey therapy in action.