Young Joss was inspired to take on the feat to raise money for Cats Protection after spotting a neighbour’s vegan cake sale that was fundraising for the feline charity, and having got the family cat, Margherita, from a local rescue centre. 

As a member of a local running club, and with a love of training in the beautiful surroundings of his Cumbrian hometown, he has set himself the task of tying up his running trainers and getting out every day of his birthday month of January.

And he has already smashed his initial sponsorship target of £50, with donations nearing £800.

With schools now closed, the Tyson family are juggling homeschooling, work and getting out for their permitted daily exercise.

Despite temperatures often hovering around freezing, and with snow on the ground, Joss has not been deterred.

Joss said: “I’m not worried about the cold or wet weather, I just want to help cats! I run for my local running club, Ambleside AC, in all kinds of weather so I am used to it.

“I’ve being doing my runs around Ambleside with mummy and daddy and my favourite places to run are Loughrigg Fell, Jenkins Crag and Wansfell.”

Joss’ has inherited his passion for running from his father, Jim, who took up the sport as a child, joining the same running club where his son is now a member. Although he drifted away from it in his teens he picked it up again in his thirties, and in 2015 he ran every day of the year to raise money for Parkinson’s UK, after his father lost his battle with the disease the year before.

Jim said: “We are very proud of Joss, especially as he came up with the idea and set up his JustGiving page all by himself. He was moved to do it after firstly seeing the cake sale set up by someone down the road, and then by watching Cats Protection videos on YouTube.”

Cats Protection Events Officer Gina Rogers said: “We want to say a huge thank you to Joss for his absolute dedication to this challenge, for running through sub-zero temperatures and snow; the cats in our care will really benefit from all those miles.”

To donate to Joss’ fundraising drive visit his JustGiving page at: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/joss-tyson

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For more information please contact Cats Protection’s Media Office on media.office@cats.org.uk or by calling 01825 741 911.