A 'High Four' raffle organised to raise funds for one of the UK's leading wildlife research charities has also benefitted four other local charities.
Four of Herefordshire’s top estates offered one drive each on their shoots to make up a ‘money can’t buy’ days shooting for 8 guns as a raffle prize. The raffle was organised by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) to raise money for its groundbreaking scientific research. In addition, each of the estate owners nominated a local charity of their choice to receive funding from the proceeds of the raffle.
The first to benefit was St Michael's Hospice, Bartestree which received a cheque for £2000 from the GWCT Herefordshire county chairman James Spreckley. The Hospice was nominated by Mike Verdin of the Garnstone estate, Woebley, whose father was cared for by the hospice. Mr Verdin said that he was "extremely grateful for the standard of care his father received and the professionalism of the staff".
The cheque was presented to Stephanie Hinksman, St Michael's Community Fundraising Manager. Ms Hinksman said that the hospice was thrilled and very grateful to be nominated by Garnstone. The money will go towards the ‘Once in a Lifetime Appeal’ to redevelop the Hospice. This redevelopment will see a brand new 20 bed inpatient unit and refurbished suite of multipurpose therapy rooms, which will transform the way St Michael’s delivers end-of-life palliative care and double the number of people cared for each year.
The three other local charities to benefit were the air ambulance, nominated by the Perrystone estate; Canine Partners, provider of Training Assistance Dogs for the disabled, which was chosen by the Lower Hope estate; and Easnor Castle's selection of the Ben Hervey-Bathurst Trust for the armed forces.
Alongside these worthy causes, the High Four raffle will also greatly benefit the GWCT's scientific research. The Trust is at the forefront of wildlife research in the UK. Its high profile work includes recent projects to investigate salmon population decline, track the movements of the elusive woodcock by satellite tagging, and identify the best ways to protect vulnerable natural resources across Europe.
For further information about GWCT events in Herefordshire and the west please contact Max Kendry at mkendry@gwct.org.uk.
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Photocaption: St Michael's Hospice community fundraising manager Stephanie Hinksman with James Spreckley, the chairman of the GWCT Herefordshire county committee.
Notes to editors
The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust – providing research-led conservation for a thriving countryside. The GWCT is an independent wildlife conservation charity which has carried out scientific research into Britain’s game and wildlife since the 1930s. We advise farmers and landowners on improving wildlife habitats. We employ 22 post-doctoral scientists and 50 other research staff with expertise in areas such as birds, insects, mammals, farming, fish and statistics. We undertake our own research as well as projects funded by contract and grant-aid from Government and private bodies. The Trust is also responsible for a number of Government Biodiversity Action Plan species and is lead partner for grey partridge and joint lead partner for brown hare and black grouse.
For information, contact:
Eleanor Williams
Telephone: 07592 025476
Email: press@gwct.org.uk