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Follow that Fish! |
October 2009 |
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Friend of Support Dogs Jenny Markham is organising a unique
fundraising event in her home city of Hull; a three legged Fish
Trail Challenge! The Seven Seas Fish Trail consists of 41 fish
swimming across Hull's pavements, through the old town and down to
the beautiful riverfront. Artist, Gordon Young, created the
trail of sculptures in 1992, representing the actual size of fish
with life size pieces, from a tiny anchovy to a 10ft ray. His sense
of humour surfaces with the location of a plaice in the market
place, an electric eel outside the electricity sub station and a
shark outside a bank.
It's a great way to explore the city and have fun raising
money for charity. The challenge takes place on Saturday 24th
October and begins at the
Queens Gardens fountain opposite the Warren at 12.30pm for a 1.00pm
start.
If you would like to take part in this unique event please email
Jenny on
jennymarkham24@googlemail.com to receive a sponsor form and
registration. Alternatively if you cannot take part yourslef, you
can sponsor Jenny who will be leading the walk with collection
buckets at
www.justgiving.com/Jennifer-Markham .
NB
Participants will need to bring their own rope or dressing gown
belts to tie there feet together!! Not everyone has to do it 3
legged if they can't, it is optional. Everybody taking part will
have to bring their sponsor money on the day.
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24hr Darts Guinness
World Record Attempt |
October 2009 |
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Gillian
McCluskey and her Support Dog Harvey congratulate Jason Clark as he
completes his marathon
24hr Guinness World Record Darts attempt based on the number of
darts games played within a non-stop 24 hour session, which aimed to
raise funds for Support Dogs,
Epilepsy Bereaved
and the
British Tinnitus Association.
The event took place
on 25th
and
26th September
at Chiswick Social Club
and was featured on both
ITN News
and Talk Sport.
Support Dogs would like to thank
everyone
who helped to make the event such a huge success and everyone who
attended the event
for their support.
The results are now being verified by Guinness and we hope to be
able to confirm that Jason is indeed a World Record Holder in the
near future. Watch this space! |
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24hr Darts Guinness
World Record Attempt |
September 2009 |
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Ross
Sheridan and Stuart Budd are arranging a 24hr Darts Guinness World
Record Attempt to raise funds for three charities - Support Dogs,
Epilepsy Bereaved and the British Tinnitus Association.
The event will take place from 3.30pm on Friday 25 September for
24hrs featuring professional darts player Jason “The Cockney Jock”
Clark. Jason turned professional in 2003, reached 39th in the World
in 2006 but dropped to 54 after 10 months out with a shoulder
injury. He has played in five televised UK Opens on Sky Sports, was
the Midland Open Champion 2004, has played in three PDC World
Championships on Sky Sports, losing in tight matches, last time was
in 2008 to Raymond Van Barnaveld three sets to one.
This charity event is being run by the Hammersmith and District
Darts Association and will be held at Chiswick Social Club on
Chiswick High Street, London. The aim is to raise funds by means of
a raffle with the main prize being a weekend break on Eurostar to
Paris - there are also a selection of other prizes.
Ross is raising funds in memory of his daughter Karen who sadly
never got to own her own Seizure Alert Dog and who tragically died
from an epileptic seizure last year.
Epilepsy Bereaved was chosen because there are three
seizure-related deaths a day in the UK. More young people continue
to die from epilepsy-related deaths than Aids and cot deaths
combined and again this is a charity close to Ross' heart.
Stuart is raising funds for the British Tinnitus Association as
he has found the Association of great help and support and he now
wants to help others with the condition.
If you would like further details about the Darts Event, please
contact Ross Sheridan on 07737 550809 or email rosssheridan@ymail.com
We hope that our local supporters will go along to the event and
support all the charities involved. More details to follow.
If you cannot attend but would like to sponsor Jason's world
record attempt, please visit our justgiving site where you can
donate online today:
http://www.justgiving.com/jasonclarkdartschallenge
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Rosie Meets Her
Sponsors |
July 2009 |
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Support
Dog in training Rosie recently made a long trip up to North Cumbria
to meet up with her sponsors from the village of Blennerhasset and
surrounding area.
After a a short visit to Kendal and a
couple of walks along beaches, Rosie made her way to the Grey Goat
pub in Baggrow where landlords Maura & Glenn had laid on a huge
party for their regulars and friends who have been busy fundraising
for the last few years and have raised a staggering £10,000 to fund
the training of a Seizure Alert Dog.
Local resident Elaine Fisher led the
fundraising efforts after her daughter Kelly died as a result of a
seizure six years ago and Kelly's family and friends were on hand to
meet Rosie who lapped up all the fuss and attention.
Tombola's, BBQ's and paddling pools were the order of the day as
everyone basked in glorious sunshine and celebrated their
achievement.
"It's such an incredible effort by
such a small village," commented Angela Gregory, Support Dogs
Fundraising Officer. "When you realise that there are only around
400 people that live in Blennerhasset itself, it puts into
perspective just how hard everyone has worked."
Rosie is due to be matched with her
potential owner in August and, if all goes well, will eventually
qualify in 2010 after which her new friends are hoping she will make
a return visit for another celebration.
Check out Rosie's visit in our new photo gallery by
clicking here.
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Support Dog Owner
Receives Award |
July 2009 |
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Support Dog owner Laura Crawford has been recognised in this year's
Queens Birthday Honours List!
The title of Member of the Order for the British Empire (MBE) has
been given to Laura from Rhos on Sea for her voluntary work with
disabled people in Wales.
The Queens Birthday Honours List
recognises outstanding achievement and service across the UK. More
than 70 per cent of awards have gone to ordinary people, local
heroes, who have made a difference to life in their communities.
Laura has dedicated her life to helping other people and currently
represents the Equipment & Adaptation Monitoring Group, a charity
based in North Wales which helps disabled people of all ages.
Laura will be collecting her award at
Buckingham Palace on 15th July and Kizzy her Support Dog will be
attending alongside her.
"Everyone at Support Dogs was
delighted to hear of Laura's award which is thoroughly deserved,"
commented Rita Howson, Director of Operations. "And it's really
exciting to know one of our dogs will be part of such a prestigious
awards ceremony."
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Ernie is a Swimming
Success |
June 2009 |
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Support
Dog Ernie and his friends made a big splash when they took part in a
recent Canine Swimathon event organised by his owner Kate Arnett.
More than £2,000 has been raised so far with more money coming in
everyday as 35 dogs and their owners took part in the canine
challenge at Halfkey Kennels & Hydrotherapy Centre in Malvern.
Visitors to the event were also entertained by the Malvern Hills and
District Brass band although Ernie himself managed to sleep through
most of the performance!
Check out the photogallery by
clicking here.
"Support Dogs would like to thank
everyone who supported the event," says Angela Gregory, Marketing &
Fundraising Officer for the charity. "As well as the dogs taking
part, those who sponsored them, everyone who donated items to the
tombola and other stands and all the volunteers who helped to ensure
that the event ran so smoothly."
"A very special thank you to Sarah
Clay and her team at Halfkey Kennels for hosting the event and of
course to our client Kate along with her husband Gavin, retired
support Dog Norman and Ernie himself for all their hard work both on
the day and in organising the event."
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FSI Charity Car Draw |
June 2009 |
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Support
Dogs have teamed up with the Foundation for Social Improvement to
offer you the chance to win a brand new Fiat 500 car at the same
time as raising money to help the charity to continue its life
transforming work.
The FSI charity, started up by the
Secret Millionaire's Emma Harrison, is running the first small
charity car draw. It gives small charities the chance to sell £2
paper or online tickets for up to a total of £1million, to raise
their local profiles and funds for their causes.
81% of the £45.9 billion of money donated through the public,
companies and grants each year goes to 3% of the largest charities
in the UK. Nobody doubts their work is valuable but it doesn't leave
much for the 166,000 smaller charities struggling to keep their
doors open without resources to arrange large fundraising
initiatives.
Emma Harrison, founder of the FSI said "the FSI helps to build
strong small charities, small charities learn how to fundraise and
run their organisations better and communities benefit from better
resourced charities. The Car Draw is just one of our tools for
getting funds to small charities without it costing them anything
other than the time to sell a ticket. Putting it online thanks to
Everyclick, means even this is just a matter of forwarding an
email."
Everyclick.com is acting as online host for the small charity car
draw, allowing all small charities, including those with no online
facilities, to take part and sell tickets on the web. Charities can
enter at no cost and will receive 95.2% of the ticket sales that
they make.
The car up for grabs is an eco-friendly, efficient Fiat 500, kindly
sponsored by Zurich. It's the car that has got Jeremy Clarkson
raving "...my God, you come away from an experience behind the wheel
absolutely loving it. It's cheeky and non threatening without being
pathetic. It's practical without being boring".
To buy a ticket and have a chance at winning a fantastic Fiat 500
simply go to
www.everyclick.com/supportdogs today and click on the "Win A
Car" banner.
Paper tickets are also available in
books of 10 tickets for supporters to sell to their friends, family
and work colleagues. Simply contact Support Dogs on 0114 261
7800 or by email at
supportdogs@btconnect.com to request your paper tickets.
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Project Puppy |
June 2009 |
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Check
out Support Dog Dougal in training to become a Seizure Alert Dog for
a person with Epilepsy on the new television series Project Puppy.
Project Puppy gives eight abandoned
dogs a second chance at life as they train to become highly skilled
working dogs performing vital roles in the community.
Begins Monday 15th June 7.00pm on
Animal Planet.
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Project Puppy |
June 2009 |
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Check
out Support Dog Dougal in training to become a Seizure Alert Dog for
a person with Epilepsy on the new television series Project Puppy.
Project Puppy gives eight abandoned
dogs a second chance at life as they train to become highly skilled
working dogs performing vital roles in the community.
Begins Monday 15th June 7.00pm on
Animal Planet.
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Support Dogs AGM 2009 |
May 2009 |
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Support
Dogs is pleased to extend an open invitation to attend the charity's
Annual General Meeting on Saturday 13th June 2009.
The event begins at 3pm at the
charity's National Training Centre, 21 Jessops Riverside, Brightside
Lane, Sheffield, S9 2RX.
RSVP: Tel:
0114 261 7800
Email: supportdogs@btconnect.com
Important: Anyone attending with
their dog should ensure that they are fully up-to-date with all
health requirements eg health checks, flea treatment and routine
vaccinations including kennel cough.
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Barking Mayhem
Appearance Cancelled |
May 2009 |
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The
appearance by Mic Martin and Support Dogs at Bank Holiday Monday's
Barking Mayhem Dog Show has sadly had to be cancelled after the
charity's patron was rushed into hospital to undergo surgery.
Everyone at Support Dogs wishes him a speedy recovery and we look
forward to working together with Mic and his team very soon.
Meanwhile Support Dogs will be at this weekend's Kent County Fair
which runs from the 2nd - 4th May at the Hop Farm, Paddock Wood
Kent.
This family fun packed event includes
quality trade stands, a shopping mall and dedicated entertainment
zones this is a great day out for all the family.
Entertainment and displays include: Field Sports and Country
Pursuits, Gundogs, Birds of Prey and Fishing Displays Horse and
Hound Pony club games and show jumping, an action packed
entertainment area, local Kentish produce to taste and buy and of
course a traditional fun fair
Find out more by visiting
www.thehopfarm.co.uk
of www.kentcountyfair.net
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Noel's HQ Give A Dog A
Phone Appeal |
January 2009 |
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Clients, trustees and staff at
Support Dogs received a huge boost, when after their appearance on
last Saturday's Noel's HQ programme, Noel announced that he was
launching his "Give A Dog A Phone appeal to help raise the vital
funds needed for the charity to continue training its assistance
dogs.
"We all have old mobile handsets
lying in drawers and cupboards, never to be used again," says Noel.
"Now we’ve found a way to help you clear out those old drawers and
raise money for charity."
All you have to do is take your old
phones to any Orange shop in the Mainland UK and Northern Ireland
and pop them into the special Freepost Noel's HQ envelope.
Alternatively you can just write the
following Freepost address on an ordinary envelope and pop your
phone inside – Freepost, Noel’s HQ. All monies raised less
processing costs will go to Support Dogs.
Please ensure you remove your sim
card and any other personal data before donating.
"This is a wonderful surprise for
everyone involved with Support Dogs," comments Angela Gregory,
Support Dogs Fundraising Officer. "As a small charity, with limited
resources, to have the support of Noel and his team plus everyone at
Orange on such an appeal is simply fantastic. Like many charities,
Support Dogs has been affected by the recession and donations have
fallen, so this couldn't have come at a better time."
Each Support Dog costs in the region
of £10,000 to train care for during its working life so
approximately 2,000 phones will be needed to fund a single dog. The
launch of the appeal brought in 653 old phones as Noel encouraged
shoppers at Birmingham's Bullring shopping centre to give up their
old phones for charity and members of the live studio audience
handed in their old sets too.
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