TWO cat-loving youngsters have gone out of their way to protect rescued felines and raise money to support animals in need.

Frankie Clark, ten, and her sister, 12-year-old Eirian, embarked on a ten-mile sponsored walk last summer with hopes of raising just £200 for Buttons Cat Rescue, which supports animals across the borough.

Their valiant efforts were inspired by the time they spent with their own foster kittens, who the family have fallen in love with and welcomed into their home.

Their mum, Carrie, told the Chronicle: “We adopted two cats about 16 months ago.

“This was from a different service, but after we’d got them I started joining all these different sites on Facebook.

“We decided to do a little bit of fostering with Buttons - but the cats needed neutering and there wasn’t enough money, they were struggling just to get food.

“So we thought we could raise money and help pay for the vet bills.”

In the end the two youngsters from Mapplewell smashed their modest fundraising goal, collecting more than £500 for the rescue service.

Their family also got bigger in the process, as they adopted the two foster cats - Tootsie and Aria - and have already taken another kitten in.

Carrie explained that they simply ‘couldn’t bear to part with them’ after spending so long together.

“The sponsored walk went really well,” she added.

“It was a rainy, miserable day but we were taking buckets around.

“I dressed up in a big cat costume and little Frankie had her own costume too.

“We went up to cars and people who offered to donate - everyone was really generous.”

In total, the family walked 10.41 miles and 27,000 steps in three hours 20 minutes.

Now the caring sisters have been nominated for this year’s Young Champions awards, as they’re celebrated for their effort to protect the borough’s furry friends.

“I told them and they were unbelievably shocked,” Carrie said.

“They didn’t do it to get recognition - all they ever wanted was to help these cats get sorted out.”

Natasha Ryan, from Buttons Cat Rescue, added: “They raised a total of £522.04 which helped us cover the cost of two cats to be neutered and treatment for another cat, Aria, who has an ongoing skin condition.

“We’re so proud of them for organising it and completing it and we’re also proud of the other girl Jodi Copley who completed half of the walk with her mum and raised £30.

“All three girls did us proud.”