A Silicone Engineering employee has been helping to make it a warm and cheerful Christmas for abandoned and lost dogs this month.

Dariia Shepal, Lead Export Sales Coordinator at Silicone Engineering would like your help in raising funds for the Manchester & Cheshire Dogs’ Home. With owning a German Shepherd of her own called Maggie, who Dariia loves to spoil, she thought that it was only fair to do something nice for dogs who had no real homes this Christmas.

Dariia added: “Charities like Manchester & Cheshire Dogs’ Home are doing a fantastic job of saving lives of abandoned and mistreated dogs, and yet they are facing the risk of being closed due to acute food and supplies shortage. I hope the initiatives like mine will help to keep dogs homes open for as long as possible and encourage people to support dogs charities not only over the festive season but throughout the year.”

With the cold weather creeping upon us, Dariia has been collecting warm blankets, dog food and towels to donate onto the Manchester & Cheshire Dogs’ Home. Not only has she been raising goods and funds here at Silicone Engineering but she has also reached out to listeners of Real radio in the North West. This is with help from the host of the Morning Breakfast show, Lorna Bancroft, who has been tweeting listeners to donate towards this wonderful cause.

Lorna said: “I am a massive animal lover and recently this year I and a friend adopted a dog each from the Manchester & Cheshire Dogs’ Home. They are beautiful little companions and without the love and care of the Dogs’ Homes, goodness only knows where they’d be now.

I wish more people would donate not only money but food, towels and bedding to the rescue centre. Anything at all would be a massive help and I think that the job done by Manchester & Cheshire Dogs’ Home is fantastic.”

The Manchester & Cheshire Dogs’ Home is a rescue centre based over two sites that takes in and cares for over 7,000 dogs every year. Many of these dogs are never reclaimed by their owners and require a great degree of emotional and physical support during their stay with the centre.

In addition to the Specialist Care Unit at the homes, the centres also utilise a wide range of behavioural and mentally stimulating activities at both to ensure each dog receives personal care and attention. Over the years the City of Manchester has grown around Manchester Dogs’ Home and it is now very much an inner city rescue centre.

To support Dariia with her cause and to find out more about this wonderful donation, please log on to the following page: http://www.justgiving.com/Dariia-Shepel

 

Antony Peel, Marketing Director at Silicone Engineering got into the festive spirit this month, by participating in Darwen’s Christmas extravaganza, which involved a Santa Dash.

The dash was organised by the East Lancashire Hospice and Santa’s were sponsored to raise as much money as possible for the hospice. Participants paid £10 as an entry fee and in return received Santa suits or a pair of reindeer antlers for junior dashers taking part in the event.

With almost 100 jolly Santa’s and reindeers dashing through the streets of Darwen town centre to complete the 1km circuit, the festive season started off with a swing.

Antony said: “The Santa Dash presented a great opportunity for all the family to support a worthwhile cause and at the same time engage in a community event. It rained throughout the day but everyone’s spirits were kept up by the merry atmosphere!”

The East Lancashire Hospice carry out similar events throughout the year and all the money raised goes towards providing specialist care, supportive care and end of life care for people living with conditions which can be treated but not cured.

In addition to its inpatient facilities, the hospice also offers further services such as; community and rehabilitation services which comprises of day therapy, hospice at home, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, complementary therapy and psychotherapy.

 

Antony Peel at the Santa Dash, Darwen, Lancashire

Event fundraiser Denise Gee added: “The first Santa Dash in Darwen got off to a great start. Whilst having festive fun, awareness and funds were raised and we hope that more dashers will sign up to this annual event in future years.”

For more information about how you may be able to help the East Lancashire Hospice, please visithttp://www.eastlancshospice.org.uk/you-can-help-us.html