A busy orthodontist from Birch Vale in High Peak, Derbyshire will soon embark on a sponsored walking challenge in northern Italy in aid of abandoned, cruelly treated and neglected donkeys.

Ros Howarth is taking part in the Cinque Terre Challenge from 18th to 25th April, an event organised by The Donkey Sanctuary in Devon, which also has a Derbyshire Centre based in Flagg near Buxton.

The expedition will lead Ros and 19 other walkers throughout Liguria National Park and finishes with a visit to the charity’s Italian sanctuary, Il Rifugio degli Asinelli, where over 100 rescued donkeys are cared for.

Ros is physically prepared for the challenge as she already enjoys hill walking in the local area, but needs help to reach the £1,850 sponsorship target, which will be used to fund The Donkey Sanctuary’s rescue centres throughout Europe.

She says: “I am very fortunate to have raised over £1,000 so far, thanks to the support of my family and friends. I also have some generous patients and staff at Buxton Health Centre and Broad Walk Dental Practice, where I work as an orthodontist, who have kindly sponsored me. As I still have a great deal more money to raise, any help would be greatly appreciated.”

Ros has sponsor forms at the reception desks of Buxton Health Centre and Broad Walk Dental Practice, and has a dedicated webpage on the online charity fundraising platform JustGiving, where donations can be made securely with confidence at www.justgiving.com/Rosalind-Howarth

To find out more about The Donkey Sanctuary’s rescue centres and holding bases throughout Europe visit www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk. The Sanctuary’s Derbyshire Centre, which provides respite care to donkeys too ill to travel to the main Sanctuary in Devon, is not open to the public, but does hold regular training courses for donkey owners and open days throughout the year.