More help needed to save horses


KIND-hearted farmers have galloped to the rescue of a Lenham horse charity after a plea for food and finance. A number of local businesses have dug


deep to help Canterbury Horse Rescue, now based in Lenham, after it issued an 11th hour appeal for funds. Farmers have also saved the horses’ day,


by donating hay and food for the animals. Canterbury Horse Rescue cares for 21 horses, many of which have behavioural and age-related problems.


ADEVOTED daughter in Vinters Park is towalk 100km for a charity that is helping her dad cope with cancer. Lauren Underdown(24), ofNewenden Close,


will take part in the London to Brighton Chal- lenge onSaturday,May26, forMacmillan Can- cer Support. Office administrator Lauren said: “I wanted


to do something formy dad and family to help raisemoney for a charity that I feel offers fam- ilies support. One in three of us will get cancer, so I felt Macmillanwas a good choice.” Lauren’s dad Bob (73) was diagnosed with


colon and liver cancer in August2011. The dis- ease spread to his lungs and doctors broke the devastatingnews thathis illnesswas terminal. Lauren said: “Mydad is the strongestperson


I know and the amount of courage he has showninthese last couple of yearshas inspired me.MymumLin (66) has been the rock of the family, keeping my two older sisters, Kerry Townsend (38) and HayleyWaters (34) andme strong.” The formerEastBorough PrimarySchooland


Bob, Lauren and Lin Underdown


Valley Park Community School pupil has been training hard and has already managed 23 miles in one go. After completing the walk she will begin preparing for her next charity challenge, volun- teering in Cambodia, Asia, with TSCCP (The Strengthening Cambodian Community). Lauren can be sponsored at www.justgiv- ing.com/Lauren-Underdown


Earlier this year, the charity’s Stella King issued a plea for help, fearing the horses risked being put down. An anonymous trust fund has since paid for a field shelter at the sanctuary, while several businesses have put their hands in their pockets. Stella said: “The local people have been brilliant – but it doesn’t stop here. The horses need food and supplies on an ongo- ing basis. Even £1 a month from someone will help – the small bits all add up.” Stella, who has been involved with the


Daughter’s epic walk for cancer charity


charity since it was formed, said: “We have been badly hit by the recession. People just don’t have the money to give. I have seen funds dry up dramatically, to the point where we are more than 50% down.” The sanctuary, which moved to Wilks


Farm, Lenham Heath Road, from Badlesmere, near Faversham, last October to save money, has been rescuing and reha- bilitating abused and abandoned horses and donkeys for 10 years. It runs largely on volunteer help, Stella


being the charity’s only paid member of staff, and spends about £100 a week on feed, before transport, vet bills and rent. Stella said: “If people really want to make a difference and know that their money is going 100% to the horses, they can buy a bag of feed, or a bale of hay.We also need things like timber poles for fencing and tin for one of our roofs which is full of holes.” Stella said offers of physical or manual labour were also welcomed, as well as do- nations from fund-raising. “One group is re- cycling tin cans while another is recycling postage stamps. Every little helps,” she said. Supporters can also adopt a horse – from


tiny Shetland Dandy to the giant 17.1hh Gertrude – for just £3 a month, or £30 for the year. The sanctuary is open to visitors from 1-3pm, Monday to Friday, and also holds open days for visitors. You can become a friend of Canterbury


Horse Rescue for an annual fee of £15. Stella said: “Any donations of hay, straw,


horse feed, apples and carrots are always gratefully received by our residents. Likewise if you have any tack or rugs etc that you no longer use, we can always use them.”


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