RAYNE, La. (KLFY) -- A Rayne woman is running the London Marathon at the end of April to raise money for donkeys.

Maria Vaughn is running on The Donkey Sanctuary's team of eight runners to promote the international animal welfare charity.

The Donkey Sanctuary benefits the estimated 60 million donkeys and mules in the world, focusing on the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, European Nations, Africa, The Americas and Asia.

"The work that's being done by donkeys, that would be done primarily by women and children if the donkeys weren't there to do that work," Vaughn said. "They use donkeys for carrying water. They use them for plowing fields. They are a main part of their livelihood. And in some countries, donkeys are even a sign of wealth.”

Even as vital workers around the world, Vaughn said little is known about the specific nutritiuonal and medical needs of these animals.

"They metabolize medicines different. Their care is different," Vaughn said. "Many things about them are different, and those things just aren’t known."

Vaughn said most donkey owners don't know how to properly care for their pets, assuming they are similar to horses.

She rescued her first donkey, Molly in 2012. Molly suddenly became sick.

“I ultimately had to have her euthanized," Vaughn said. "And at that point is when I realized that donkeys are really nothing like horses, like people think that they are.”

So, she committed to learning as much about donkeys as she could, since she adopted a second donkey before Molly got sick. She found The Donkey Sanctuary to learn how to better care for her pets.

“They take veterinarian students, and they go to these countries. And they help them to learn about how to care for their donkeys, how to give them the best life possible," Vaughn said. "Because the donkeys are what's bringing them income and helping them to sustain their livelihood in those countries.”

Vaughn says she reached her fundraising goal for the marathon but will continue to support The Donkey Sanctuary and its mission, since she now has 9 pet donkeys.

She is running the London Marathon April 27.

It will be her second time running the prestigious UK race. She also ran it in 2024 for the St. Jude Children's Hospital. Last year, she also ran the New York marathon for St. Jude Children's Hospital, collectively raising $20,000.

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