ONE man and his dog will be setting off this week on a Christmas cruise along the Grand Union Canal to raise awareness of StreetVet.

Phil Bradshaw and his loyal Staffie, Lucky, will be travelling through Uxbridge, Cowley, Yiewsley and Hayes on their voyage from Hemel Hempstead to London.

Along the way, they will be collecting donations of dog toys and food vouchers for those who find themselves homeless this Christmas.

They will be distributed by StreetVet, the charity which provides free veterinary care to the pets of the homeless and vulnerable.

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Phil and Lucky, who at one stage were of ‘no fixed abode’, will make 11 stop-offs along the river before reaching Imperial Wharf in Chelsea on Tuesday, December 10.

He sought the charity’s help in 2017 when he was staying in a hostel and discovered a lump on Lucky’s mammary gland.

He had no way of paying for the operation she needed, but StreetVet stepped in, removing it and providied Phil with peace of mind. 

Their home now is Baloo, a 40-year-old river cruiser - and their vessel for the Christmas Cruise.

You can follow The Christmas Cruise for StreetVet, including details of their moorings while in Hillingdon, on www.facebook.com/thelongwalkforstreetvet