A GROUP of university level students from Duchy College Rosewarne have boosted funding for St Francis Home for Animals after presenting the Newquay based charity with a cheque for £1,231.

The first year foundation degree veterinary nursing and conservation and countryside management students raised the funds for the dog re-homing charity after successfully hosting a dog show and family fun day out at it 47 hectare site.

Veterinary nursing student Megan Richards, who was one of the key fundraisers, said: “As part of our degree we were required to hold a fundraising event and alongside the conservation and countryside students we decided that a dog show, with inclusions of activities relevant to nature and the natural world, would tie both courses together.

“We had more than 100 canines enter the dog show and flyball competition, and lots of children get their face painted, use the bouncy slide, see and handle the animals and have a go at the nature crafts. All of us were totally overwhelmed by the success of the day and the turnout, as well as the amount of money raised.”

St Francis is a home for dogs and puppies that are currently looking for a permanent home. In the absence of their own loving family, each animal is nurtured by the team at St Francis as they strive find them a new, loving family. Rehoming dogs is the ultimate aim and their success rate is high.

The charity was chosen for the fundraising event as Megan has seen first-hand the hard work that they do and knows how every penny gets spent and utilised. “I have provided nursing care for some of their animals during my first work experience placement in the field,” said Megan “and the staff of the home are very dedicated to their animals and to finding them loving homes.”

The money raised is going towards making a new dog shower and grooming centre, a bigger kitchen and fixing the fence around their large running fields.

Megan added: “I think during the experience we all learnt that none of us are natural event planners. But what I was most proud of was how everyone came together to support one another and to raise money for a worthy cause. I was also shown the generosity of the local community and businesses in their donations to the raffle.”

Pete Winch, trained duty manager at St Francis Home for Animals, said: “On behalf of all our dogs and staff, I would like to say thank you to everyone involved in the Duchy College fun day in aid of St Francis. It was an amazing event that was enjoyed by all and raised a massive amount of money for the dogs in our care.”