ACE Newsletter.......Summer 2006

Over the past few months a great deal of time and hard work has been carried out by Kim Taylor (Manager of the ACE Centre) and the Egyptian Directors, to find a new piece of land to buy so we can continue our work for the animals. Although many different sites were found, the location and price being the prime considerations, we encountered many problems. Usually land is owned by a number of people, sometimes all from one family, and it is often difficult to get everyone to agree to selling land, and to agree a price. This situation has been made more difficult by the extensive programme of improvements being made in the city; the Governor Dr Samir Farag, has undertaken the enormous task of making the city a more acceptable place for tourists. Those of you who have visited this year would have seen some of the building works being carried out to the roads and buildings: Karnak and Luxor Temples will be joined by the ancient avenue of sphinx, which will involve a three year excavation project. Many Egyptian families are to be relocated in the countryside as their homes will be demolished to make way for the excavations, and two churches and a mosque are to be rebuilt elsewhere. You may wonder what this has got to do with ACE buying land. The answer is simple: with the City expanding into the countryside, land values in the areas in which we would like to buy, on the outskirts of the city, are rising, and many owners of land are reluctant to sell at this time as they feel that their land would fetch more money in a few years time. ACE will not be deterred by these problems and will continue to search for the land we dream to have to continue helping even more animals.

We were delighted to learn that the word is spreading about the work of ACE. Last November we were called by Radio 4 "On Your Farm" programme as they had heard about us and were thinking of doing a feature. We naturally agreed and in December the producer, Ben Chesterton met Kim Taylor and spent a great deal of time with her at the Centre. The result was a wonderful collage of sounds and voices which gave a real flavour of what goes on there.

The programme was broadcast on Sunday 23rd April at 6.35 a.m. and we were amazed at the wonderful response we received. A big thank you to everyone who responded and to Ben Chesterton for making such an evocative sound picture.

Following meetings in London and Luxor, ACE and THE BROOKE HOSPITAL FOR ANIMALS in Luxor will be working together to help even more equines have a brighter future. Brooke supporters will already be aware of their recent move from the city centre as part of the redevelopment work mentioned above. The BROOKE HOSPITAL now has a base just across the road from the ACE Centre and their mobile clinics are travelling further out into the countryside and villages. ACE is now treating more of the town equines than before, and it is hoped that we can eliminate the problems of owners taking their animals to both clinics for the same treatment.

ACE and BROOKE will work and help each other to give the optimum care and treatment to animals as and when the need arises.

Special thanks to our very dedicated fundraising supporter JEAN HELEY from Halifax. Jean has been tirelessly fundraising for ACE now for several months and has gathered a small army of like minded supporters. She has organised many different events raising regular funds for the animals. MOODY MARES Saddlery of Mytholmroyd, W. Yorks, has donated second hand tack, bandages, useful items for the centre and stock at cost. COUNTRY SUPPLIES, Queensbury, W Yorks, have also supplied old and new tack, bandages, items at cost for the Centre and new riding boots for auction. Our thanks to both companies. Jean holds an auction once a month.

If you live around the area of Halifax and would like to help Jean please give her a call on 01422 208358 or e-mail j.heley@btinternet.com. If you would like to start a fundraising group in your area please contact: Julie; Tel: 01732 700710

Jean Heley has also recently purchased two new flats in Luxor for holiday letting. Each has two double bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen, sitting room, balcony, all comfortably furnished. Prices per week are; first guest #50, extra guest #35 each, or single occupancy #85. Jean is very kindly donating all the rental money to ACE for the animals. Not only will you be having a holiday in Luxor, you will be helping ACE as well. Please contact Jean for more information and bookings. Tel: 01422 208358 or e-mail j.heley@btinternet.com. Our thanks again to Jean and her generosity and devotion to the animals.

ACE has joined CHARITY CHOICE the premier guide to charities in the UK.

Through their secure web site and with THE CO-OPERATIVE BANK, you can donate online to ACE via their donation service by using your credit card. This is a simple, quick and time-saving exercise - just log on to www.charitychoice.co.uk.

Follow the instructions to donations. The rest is just as simple: your donation will be transferred to your bank account. There will also be a link between our web sites.

Without your support it would be impossible for ACE to continue helping the thousand of animals we treat and care for every year. During the next few months we will continue to search for land. However, we need your support to fund the land and building costs for the hospital. We need to plan ahead, so we can be in a position to start building immediately after land has been acquired. Please be as generous as you can to help the growing number of animals, more than 180 every day, 365 days a year.

Have you ever had a tick on your dog or cat ? Just imagine how uncomfortable this horse was with hundreds of ticks invading under his tail.

        

Just 4 days after our 6th year anniversary a deal was finally completed for the purchase of land to build a new centre….. at long last.

Our continued thanks to "THE VET" Jude Dawson and Laura Bailey for their hounding of veterinary supply companies.

Previous Newsletter - Winter 2005