ESTABLISHED and amateur artists have rallied to a community call to support an international charity trying to alleviate the issue of street dogs in Sri Lanka.
Scores of postcards have already been sent to Barnard Castle School which is backing the charity We Care, run by vet and former student Janey Lowe.
The charity strives to look after millions of street dogs in Sri Lanka with a veterinary care and neutering programme.
Janey works tirelessly to treat and spay the animals as well as fundraise to keep the charity going. Her work was featured this year on ‘New Lives in the Wild’, a C5 documentary hosted by Ben Fogle.
Head of art at Barnard Castle School Kate Baptist, who taught Janey in Year 9, launched a postcard fundraiser with the help of the TEA Sketchbook Circle of artist educators. We Care has also been adopted as one of the school’s official charities this year.
The community has been asked to draw, paint, print or stitch a design on to a postcard which will then be auctioned on eBay.
Cards are now flooding in from artists and children alike as the collection grows towards a deadline of Saturday, February 8. They will be posted on-line on the school’s website and be available for silent auction on eBay, with starting bids at £1, for ten days to raise as much money as possible. Bidders might find themselves with a professional artist original, but will only know the artist’s name when they receive their card.
Dog-lover and TV host Paul O’Grady has also donated a signed copy of his latest book to auction for the charity and Ben Fogle has been approached for support. The network of Old Barnardians has also been contacted for help.
Janey said: “I am overwhelmed by the support I have had from my old school and the community. The postcard initiative sounds amazing so thank you so much.”
Mrs Baptist added: “This is a great example of how the school strives to be at the heart of the community, helping wherever the need arises. Janey works incredibly hard for a cause which she feels so passionately about. She is such a talented vet, completely selfless and totally devoted to her cause – so we are delighted to help.”
Anyone wanting to get involved can contact Mrs Baptist at kb@barneyschool.org.uk.