Nine-year-old animal lover to walk from Littleborough to Todmorden for Bleakholt

Henley Greenwood

A nine-year-old animal lover from Littleborough is raising money for Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary by walking to Todmorden this Saturday (12 June).

Henley Greenwood is aiming to raise as much as he can for the local sanctuary, initially telling his aunt, Kirsty Greenwood that he wanted to walk 20 miles and raise £4,000.

Setting a lower target of £250, Henley has already raised an impressive £1,176 for Bleakholt ahead of the walk along the Rochdale canal.

Henley will be joined on the walk by his mum, Amy, plus his aunties Kirsty, Lucy and Sharon.

Kirsty, who regularly fundraises for various causes and is helped by her nephew, says Henley asked her if they could do one.

“We haven’t done a fundraiser for about two years, but I said if he chose the charity and what to do, I’d help him so it’s completely his.”

After deciding to “help the animals”, they settled on Bleakholt, as Kirsty’s childhood dog, Charlie, who died in 2018, was adopted from there.

Kirsty, who has two rescue dogs from Spain, Pirate and Cooper, added: “Henley wanted to walk 20 miles but I said Littleborough to Todmorden would be far enough.

“We’re going to Bleakholt on Sunday to drop off some food and blankets so Henley can see where the money is going, so he can think ‘I’ve done this and helped’.”

Henley will also be carrying a bucket for any spontaneous cash donations along their canal walk, and will be setting off at 10.30am.

To donate, please visit:

• www.justgiving.com/fundraising/kirsty-greenwood7