Our Annual Christmas Food Bikers Run raised £1,568.50 this year! Thank you all!

Well what a full-on, busy, hectic but fantabulous week it has been here at JFD, a week that makes me want to shout from the (kennel) roof-tops ‘YES! This is why we do what we do’!!!

Sunday 11th saw our annual Christmas food appeal/bikers run and along with the bikers bearing gifts of all kinds were many friends, old and new, returning to JFD to see us.

For me, a big part of events here are the visits from some of our ex-residents. It warms my heart to see them as such treasured, much-loved family members, with many of them never having previously experienced warmth, love and kindness until they entered the doors at JFD, after which life just gets better and better.

The event raised an amazing £1,568.50 as well as enough food, bedding and toys to keep our dogs content, happy & cosy, well into 2017!!

A huge thanks again to Chris Molesworth for rallying the bikers and also to the Kingsway pub at Mackworth for hosting the start of the bike-run and for their kind food donations. The landlord of the pub made a suggestion to Chris & Angie of a possible fund-raising event we could stage at the pub in the spring or summer and we will certainly be looking into this in the New Year. Chris Molesworth is one of JFD’s biggest fans and my respect and admiration for all he does for us (considering the daily challenges life throws at him on a daily basis) is boundless. I think Chris would be the first to say that life has been incredibly cruel to him and dealt him some bitter blows at times, but we’re delighted to see that things are on the up now for Chris, as a new chapter in his life began earlier this year when he became romantically involved with a very special lady called Angie. Following a whirlwind romance the three of them (we can’t forget their adorable rescued dog Vinnie) recently moved into their new home in Etwall and I along with many others wish them every happiness in the world. Chris, you put many able-bodied people to shame!

Our Christmas appeal wouldn’t be complete without the contribution of some of the most delicious cakes I have ever tasted. Our treasured cake bakers Jill & Tim & Janice are just a phone call away and never fail to go that extra mile. Thank you. xx

I would also like to thank some very special people for their kind and generous donations on the day, the heating in the kennels can now be turned up a notch without the need for us to worry about the dreaded bills!!

Last but not least our small band of merry helpers that have worked their little socks off, not just for this event, but many events throughout the year. So, in no particular order, Barb, Janice, Pat, Lucy & Mac, Krissy, Caso,Trish, Louise, Gabby and Doug, we are a small but strong and happy team, we sing from the same hymn sheet, with one goal in mind which is to rescue, help, care for and love as many dogs as space, funds and time will allow. Together we can do it and 2017 will be our year, our 20th Anniversary and a year that will see huge changes (but only structural) at JFD.

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