A group of dog-loving A&E nurses from Noble’s Hospital are holding a ball in aid of two animal welfare causes.
The 101 Donations black and white themed charity ball will be at the Palace Hotel on Saturday, October 3 in aid of the ManxSPCA and a Romanian dog shelter. It will feature a three-course meal, live music from AM Frequency, a photo booth, and a raffle that’s well supported by local firms.
A & E nurse Jennifer Cannell said that after her last dog, a Greek street dog called May, died earlier this year she wanted to do some volunteering work with dogs, so went to Romania, where many dogs struggle in awful conditions.
‘I went to the Amicii shelter, a small charity run by a dedicated team of local people together with two women from the UK, who look after adopting, volunteering and fundraising,’ she said.
‘I was so moved by what I saw that when I got back home I wanted to do what I could to find some of these dogs a loving home, so I decided to foster dogs from the shelter with a view to rehoming them.’
Jennifer chose a puppy she called Gypsy, who she described as being ‘adorable’. She said Gypsy soon settled in to her new life in the island.
On hearing about the shelter and Gypsy, Yvonne Phillips, Jennifer’s friend and A&E colleague, chose to offer a home to a dog but ended up adopting one, Suzi, from an Amicii fosterer in the UK.
Jennifer said: ‘The shelter’s a lifeline for abused dogs and the volunteers need all the support they can get. Similarly the MCPCA is doing fantastic work - they often help us out when patients are admitted unexpectedly to hospital and don’t have anyone at home who can look after their pets.’
The ball was inspired by another A&E nurse, Julie Hedley, who has organised the event with support from Jennifer, Yvonne and the other A&E nurses Jo Standish, Kim Durbin, Sharon Weir and Sheilagh Gilman.
The ball starts at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £50 and include a drink on arrival, a lavish seafood buffet, carvery main course with vegetarian option and a choice of desserts.
To book contact Julie Hedley, 455119 or email eganjulie@hotmail.com