By Ruth Taylor
Our REsponD Appeal has galloped past the £100,000 finishing post thanks to a charity race day which has been hailed as a runaway success.
More than 400 people bought tickets to the Ludlow Charity Race Day last Thursday which raised around £35,000 for the Red Cross appeal.
The final race of the day was sponsored by the Chronicle and 12 riders took part, including Otis Ferry, pro-hunt campaigner and son of Roxy Music’s frontman, Bryan Ferry. It was eventually won by amateur jockey Sarah Holmes.
Now the REsponD Appeal has reached its target, Red Cross officials can employ a development officer to recruit community ambassadors. The ambassadors will work with vulnerable people in Shropshire and help them to gain access to Red Cross services.
The organisation is already using the multi-purpose vehicle that was bought with funds raised through the appeal in February.
Race day guests, which included TV presenter and comedian Nick Hancock and the Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire, Algernon Heber-Percy, were treated to champagne and a four-course meal. A promise auction raised around £10,500 for the charity.
Ian Musty, appeal organiser, said: “This is just fantastic and I really must thank everyone who has helped REsponD to get to our target in under 18 months. Our event at Ludlow was a very special day and there have been many other special events during the time of the appeal.
“As readers of your excellent newspaper may have seen, our new multi-purpose vehicle has been delivered and we will soon be advertising for a new development officer to take our services in Shropshire to a new level.
“It’s been an exciting few months and lots of groups, companies and individuals have been hugely supportive. The Shrewsbury Chronicle has championed our cause throughout and played a very special part in providing publicity to our activities.
“All I can say is a humble and heartfelt ‘thank you’ to everybody who has helped us. Thank you for REsponDing to our REsponD Appeal.”