Avon Gorge abseil brings in plenty for Newbury Cats Protection

More than £1,000 raised to help cover costs of charity's vet bills

An abseil down Bristol’s Avon Gorge has raised more than £1,400 for local Cats Protection branches.

Staff and volunteers from the Newbury centre, including Adele Honour, Clare Turner and Charles Rinaldi, raised £1,100 to help cover costs at its Curridge adoption centre and its rehoming centre at Pets at Home.

A further £300 was raised for Swindon Cats Protection by 70-year-old volunteer George Russell, from Hungerford, with Jackie Thom also raising money for the Wootton Bassett branch.

The challenge took place on March 8, and was organised by the National Cat Centre to provide a platform for volunteers and staff to raise funds for their local branches.

Newbury adoption centre manager Karen Clarke said the money raised would contribute towards the £40,000 spent on vets bills each year.

She said: “The £1,100 raised by the Newbury team will go towards little Robin’s eye surgery – a little chap who started his life in an uncertain world will now go on to be a cheeky, loving family pet.

“Newbury Adoption Centre is extremely grateful to those that took part in the challenge.

“It was wonderful to see other branches and adoption centres all getting together to help the cats in our care.”