AN ALCESTER woman has been named October’s volunteer of the month by international animal welfare charity Brooke.
Pat Layton has fundraised for Brooke since 1988 and in that time has raised a whopping £24,574 thanks to the sales of her Christmas cards and second hand items on eBay.
Her stall has also been a regular fixture at the Arab Championships in Malvern.
She got involved with volunteering due to her love of horses and hatred of them being ill-treated.
The excellent ambassador said: “I’ve certainly met some characters at the Arab Championships – an Arab sheikh bought Churchill books off me and his bodyguard paid over the money.
“A very scruffy lady said she wanted to give me a donation and pulled out a Coutts cheque book which is the Queen’s bank – you have to be a millionaire to open an account there.
“And lots of lovely children who love my lucky dip pony Cleo.”
Pat and the Warwickshire group are part of a large network of volunteers fundraising for Brooke around the UK.
Money raised from volunteers goes towards Brooke’s work across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America, making lasting improvements to the lives of working horses, donkeys and mules and the people who depend on them.
