For decades, the meat and dairy industries have inflicted unimaginable suffering on animals while driving some of the most devastating environmental destruction on our planet.

Cows, pigs, chickens, and other animals raised for food and clothing are treated as disposable commodities. They are confined in filthy, overcrowded spaces, mutilated without pain relief, and ultimately killed long before their natural lifespans. Supporting these industries comes at a staggering cost to every life on this planet.

Leather is often marketed as a harmless byproduct of the cruel meat industry, but there is nothing humane or sustainable about wearing someone else’s skin. If we wouldn’t wear the skin of the dogs or cats who share our homes, we shouldn’t wear the skins of animals who experience the same fear, pain, love, and desire to live. Every leather jacket, shoe, or bag represents the suffering and death of a cow who didn’t want to die.

The tanning process itself relies on toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde and cyanide, polluting waterways and harming workers and nearby communities. Today, with so many fashionable, durable, and affordable plant‑based materials available, there is simply no justification for continuing to wear animal skins.

I wasn’t always aware of this, and I wasn't always aware of my impact on the world around me.

I used to eat animals and wear them, too—until someone took the time to show me the truth behind those everyday choices and how deeply they supported cruelty. That moment changed my life.

I am forever grateful to the people who opened my eyes, and I carry that debt with me every day.

That’s why I’m taking on my biggest challenge yet: running the 2026 London Marathon in support of PETA’s mission of animal liberation. I’ve completed 10 half marathons, but this will be my first full marathon.

Every mile I run will be dedicated to the animals who deserve the opportunity to run freely like us.

Thank you for your support! 

-Catie <3