Please take a few minutes to read this wonderful story. A true story about one woman’s passion and determination to make a difference for the lives of so many animals.

It was in 1988 when the first seedlings of Farm Animal Rescue Sanctuary were sown. Carole had heard about a very poorly new-born lamb at a local farm close by where she lived in Hertfordshire. The lamb wasn’t expected to survive. Carole asked the farmer if she could adopt him. The farmer agreed. Naming him Larry, Carole took him home to hand rear. Larry was her first success, but he certainly wasn’t the last. Next came premature lamb triplets, who she named the Didley family. All three had to be syringe fed every few hours, and just like Larry they thrived.

By 1992, Carole’s flock of animals had grown considerably, and she had to relocate the sanctuary to Cambridgeshire. Carole bought a house with some land in a small village called Fen Drayton, but eventually she was caring for over 800 rescued animals. Realising the sanctuary had outgrown these premises too, it wasn’t long before the sanctuary was on the move once again. Carole made the decision to sell the property, and in 1999 she moved Farm Animal Rescue Sanctuary (FARS) back to Hertfordshire. The small amount of money Carole had made from the sale of the property, she put back into the sanctuary. All Carole wanted to do was make a difference for the lives of as many farm animals as she could.



It was at this time Carole also made the decision to reduce her own living costs in order to supplement the sanctuary. She gave up the luxury of bricks and mortar, choosing to live in a mobile home on a site with some land for her rescued animals. It wasn’t a great move though for the sanctuary. In the short time they were there, continued vandalism caused numerous problems and made life extremely difficult.

At 75, Carole Webb, a former veterinary nurse, has had her fair share of personal heartache too. This is what makes her story even more inspirational. Carole's 32-year-old disabled daughter named Melanie, sadly died of a heart attack in her arms. If this wasn't devastating enough, Carole's mother also passed away shortly afterwards, losing her brave battle with breast cancer. But although Carole's life had been ripped apart, this was when she also realised her true vocation. To rescue, protect, heal and care for unwanted farm animals.



Last year Farm Animal Rescue Sanctuary celebrated 30 years. From Carole’s first adoptee Larry, she has achieved so much. But it was in November 2018, when Carole also reached out to me. My name is Sharon Bull and I work as an inspirational speaker and writer. Mental health awareness, children (particularly the disadvantaged and vulnerable) and animal welfare are at the heart of everything I do. I have been a strong supporter of FARS since my first visit in 2015.

Over the years Carole and the sanctuary have always relied on trusted volunteers, but recently she has been heavily let down. Knowing my marketing and sales background, Carole asked me if I could help raise the sanctuary's profile and much needed funds.

Over the past two months, with the help of Jayne Tutt (financial administrator) we have achieved so much. We have now doubled the volunteer support, adding more generosity and talent to a small but extremely caring team. With a tight administration system, a new website, a more inviting adoption/sponsor campaign and a much stronger social media platform, a silver lining is on the horizon. But the sanctuary’s accounts were left in a much-depleted state, so December 2018 our focus was to simply make the most of the festive season. Pulling together some swift promotional activity, we managed to raise a substantial amount of money over the month.



We are still a relatively small team, but determined to turn the sanctuary around together, so that Carole and the rescued animals can have the financial stability they so deserve. With the rising cost of hay (feed) and the continued maintenance of the sanctuary’s buildings, this is not going to be easy.



We have many ideas, short term/long term goals and a 5-year plan in place, but we need to keep the sanctuary’s head above water over the next couple of months. Can you please help us to achieve this by donating to our 'For the Love of Larry' campaign.



Thank you

Sharon Bull

sharon@farmanimalrescuesanctuary.org.uk

www.farmanimalrescuesanctuary.org.uk



"All Lives are Precious!" ~ Carole Webb ( founder of Farm Animal Rescue Sanctuary)

