We are celebrating a most welcome few weeks of sponsorship windfalls in what our founder has called a “testing time for small charities.”

Shepton Mallet fitness instructor Kat Baker who swam the English Channel on September 12 has handed over her sponsorship cash to be used to care for our animals.

Husband of a shelter supervisor Tracy, Steve Cook is also collecting his £200 sponsor money after taking part in a solo parachute jump near Salisbury on September 19. He was the first to jump from the plane and had a worrying moment when his cords became tangled, but apart from a bumpy landing, he is still here to tell the tale. Although Steve said he enjoyed it, he is in no hurry to repeat his sponsored stunt.

Kat, 22, met with Happy Landings founder Annabelle Walter of Baltonsborough and shelter manager Aimee Settle on Thursday to hand over the £1,548.24 she raised from her relay swim on September 12.

In addition to Steve and Kat’s brave efforts, the Happy Landings Sweat-4-a-Pet team took part in the Shepton Mallet Fun Run on Sunday morning.

Fitness fanatic and animal lover Kat also took part in the fun run for the shelter and the 11-strong team each wore specially printed team vests paid for by Winsboroughs Fish and Chip Restaurant, who also gave the hungry runners a free meal in the evening.

Sponsorship raised by the Sweat-4-a-Pet team raised more than £600 For Happy Landings.

Young Danny Chandler also completed a sponsored 6.5 mile walk from his home in Wells to his School in Godney in aid of our animal raising £152.58. Everyone at Inaura School and Happy Landings is extremely proud of Danny's achievement. Danny would like to thank everyone who sponsored and supported him in his efforts. Lyn Southway, Office Manager at Happy Landings showed Danny around the New Small Animal Unit which is already bursting at the seems with cats and Kittens and Danny happily agreed that the money would be spent on the cats as they are his greatest love.

Manager Aimee Settle said: “It is terrific that this money has come at such a difficult financial time and I want to thank Danny, Kat and Steve and everyone who took part in the fun run team, Winsboroughs and all those who sponsored everyone."

“We have noticed a recent decline in animal adoptions, so to get these three events taking place now is just the extra bit of support we needed to keep our heads above the water for now.”

Founder of Happy Landings, Annabelle Walter said: “It’s marvellous that everyone has put themselves out like this for our animals.

Kat and Steve must have been bonkers to swim the Channel and jump put of an aeroplane and the running team did us proud too.

Without wonderful supporters and efforts like these, hundreds more animals would be put to sleep each year as there are just not enough spaces in shelters to take them all.

It is desperate times right now for small charities such as ours.

Dozens of stray or unwanted dogs are destroyed every day in this country with many of them pedigree breeds.

If shelters like Happy Landings were to close through lack of funds, you would most certainly see a hideous increase in more of these perfectly healthy and innocent dogs dying needlessly.”

Would you like to help us by taking part in a sponsored event? Send us an email with your details or call Carol Vincent on 07954 190072.

During 2008 we have had some cracking fundraising events and we owe a debt of thanks to all those who took part.

On Sunday, June 8, on a scorching hot day, a sponsored doggy walk took place around Collett Park in Shepton Mallet raised hundreds of pounds towards Happy Landings.

      

Thank you to everyone who took part and their four legged followers and all those who were generous to sponsor them.

 

And a huge thank you to Framptons Ltd and Glastonbury Spring Water who donated liquid refreshments to our participants.