The region’s much-loved Suffolk Dog Day saw hundreds of dogs, and their owners, descend upon Helmingham Hall to celebrate man’s best friend and raise vital funds for St Elizabeth Hospice.
Taking place on Sunday 8 September the event, hosted by the hospice, featured a range of fun dog classes, dog agility and scurry activities, as well as over 50 stalls full of doggy goodies, Crufts’ style competitions, children’s entertainment and plenty of food and drink stalls for attendees to enjoy.
Sponsored by Gladwells Pet & Country Store and Skinners, and with support from media partner GenX Radio, Suffolk Dog Day proved to be a great success helping to raise over £70,000 for St Elizabeth Hospice, with highlights including Helen Bone, with her Border Collie, Murphy, winning Supreme Best in Show.
James Fox-Golding, Events and Challenges Manager at St Elizabeth Hospice, said: “We have had a fantastic time at this year’s Suffolk Dog Day. There have been lots of smiling faces and wagging tails, as the community has joined with the hospice to share our love for our four-legged friends and to support the charity too.
“Congratulations to all the show winners and to all who took part. A massive ‘thank you’ to all the wonderful volunteers and stallholders, who supported Suffolk Dog Day this year and who helped make the event possible. Every penny raised really will make a difference to the hospice’s services.”
Helen Bone, who won Supreme Best in Show with her dog Murphy, said: “We’ve had a fantastic day and it feels absolutely amazing to win! Murphy is a great dog and has performed so well. The show has been so well organised and I hope it has raised a lot of money for the hospice”.
Valuable funds raised by Suffolk Dog Day 2024 will go towards the work of St Elizabeth Hospice. An independent charity, which every year delivers specialist palliative care to more than 4,000 people living with a progressive or life-limiting illness, and their families, throughout East & Mid Suffolk, Great Yarmouth & Waveney.
Annually this service costs around £12 million to deliver, with 70% of these funds being generated by the local community’s support of the hospice’s income streams, for example retail shops, events – such as Suffolk Dog Day, individual fundraising as well as gifts in Wills and donations.