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Newsletters

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If you would like to keep up to date with our newsletters, please print off and sign this form and return it to us by post.

Annual Reports

Christmas raffle

Find out if you're a winner in our branch's Christmas Raffle by clicking here.

Gilmore's Christmas Raffle

1st prize winner, Mrs Carole Chapman, with HollyThanks to everyone who donated goods for the Gilmore Veterinary Surgery Christmas Raffle, and to clients for buying tickets. All the nurses contributed to make a massive Christmas Hamper for 1st prize, with some sweets and biscuits for 2nd and 3rd prizes. The hamper was full of treats, biscuits, mince pies, Xmas puddings, salmon, cranberry sauce and so on.

Over £200 was raised for the RSPCA Wigan, Leigh and District Branch. The picture shows the lucky winner, Mrs Carole Chapman, with her Cocker Spaniel "Holly".

The RSPCA’s Fireworks Campaign

Sounds Scary CDThis year we are preparing well in advance of Bonfire Night and New Year's Eve to promote the RSPCA’s Fireworks Campaign. There is a new leaflet and poster with updated advice on how to prepare your pet for the fireworks season. The leaflet includes the importance of seeking veterinary advice in advance, as well as suggestions for a variety of coping strategies – particularly for fearful dogs.

Also, we have teamed up with "Sound Therapy 4 Pets" to promote the use of: 'Sounds Scary' – a CD therapy pack used to help pets learn to be less afraid of loud noises. The public can purchase the CD at a reduced RSPCA rate by visiting www.rspca.org.uk/fireworks (10% of the sale of every CD will come to the RSPCA) and the new leaflet is available at our charity shop.

Great North Run 2008

Ian and Bobby - Great North Run 2008Here's a picture of Ian with Bobby at the finish of the Great North Run, exhausted but elated.

Ian's right leg started to hurt after 11 1/2 miles but he managed to limp the last mile and 1/2 to the finish.

It was a wonderful occasion. The weather was bright and sunny completely different from the grey rainy day of Saturday. The crowds were there to cheer everyone on, many of them clapping continually for 2 hours or so.

It was difficult to find Ian amongst the 52,000 runners at the end but the organisation is so good that we eventually met at the reunion point.

RSPCA Week Fund Raising

Gina Senior, her dog Bonny and John AshcroftThank you to all our supporters for helping us at Tesco’s National RSPCA Week (28th April-4th May). We raised a record amount of funds this year, totalling £1,048.58 at Wigan Store; £292.54 at Hindley, and £60.25 at Atherton - a grand total of £1,401.37. Unfortunately, we could not find many volunteers to collect at Hindley and Atherton.

Customers also kindly donated approximately four trolley loads of pet food. Because we do not have an Animal Centre in our Branch area, we have passed this on to needy pet owners and the people who foster animals in our care.

In addition, Gina Senior ran in the London Marathon in aid of the RSPCA Wigan Leigh and District Branch. Along with proceeds from a concert with Jimmy Cricket, Gina raised a massive £1,300 to fund the many welfare needs of animals in our large Branch area.

Ian completes Bradford 10k run

Ian and BobbyThis is Ian and Bobby after the Bradford 10k run on Sunday, 20th April. Ian did it in 54 min 58 seconds. Two days later he ran from Standish back home to Longton, which is just over 13 miles, in practise for the Great North Run.

The Great North Run is a very strenuous race and we would like Ian to know that fellow Wigan animal supporters are behind him. His wife, Rose, and his dog will be cheering him on, both on the day and on his many cold and wet training runs.

Please contact us or Gilmore's Vets on 01257 426110 with your offers of sponsorship, or if you would like to receive a sponsorship form.

Sponsorship Cheque Handover

Sponsorship Cheque HandoverThis photo shows Rose Marshall with husband Ian, centre, and their dog 'Bobby', handing over a cheque for £756.55 to the RSPCA Wigan, Leigh and District Branch Hon Chairman, John Ashcroft. All this money was raised through sponsorship of Ian to run in The Great North Run last October (2007). Ian wanted to help his local Branch because wife Rose cares for many of their animals at Gilmore Veterinary Practice in Standish, Wigan. Ian will be running the same event this year in late September, but needs to collect sponsorship now, preferably from new supporters. To sponsor Ian call the Branch on 01942 824165 or 248493. Alternatively, call into our charity shop for a form, or call in Gilmore's at 52 High Street, Standish. Ian would like to thank Pat Atkinson of RSPCA HQ for her organisational help, and he would recommend anyone who is considering holding a sponsored event of this nature to contact her for advice via 0300 123 0410, email: patkinson@rspca.org.uk.

National news

For national RSPCA news, please visit the RSPCA's main web site.