Nails and massages leads to £900 for cats

On Friday 17th October 2014 the Friends of Axhayes group held a charity pamper evening at the Cat & Fiddle Inn, Clyst St Mary, Nr Exeter. The doors opened at 6.45pm and treatments started at 7pm. Many local businesses provided short treatments such as mini facials, file and paint, hand & foot massages etc to help raise funds for Exeter Axhayes Cats Protection adoption centre. It became clear from the outset that the evening was going to be popular as soon the queue for booking treatments was quite long.

There was a raffle during the evening with some fantastic prizes won, all donated by local businesses, including a £60 voucher donated by Silver Street Tattoos in Ottery St Mary, signed copy of a book by local photographer Gary Holpin, tickets to an Exeter Chiefs game, family train ticket from Exeter to London donated by South West Trains, a one year subscription to Devon Life magazine, loads of vouchers for treatments to local salons and lots more besides.

There were also various stalls selling things from wax melts, handmade jewellery to homemade fudge. As well as homemade cupcakes made by friends and supporters of the centre.

The evening raised £941.70 for the centre which will go towards caring for the cats and kittens in their care. The centre currently has about 150 cats & kittens awaiting a second chance in life, with a long waiting list of cats looking for their help.

A spokesperson for the Friends of Axhayes group, who help fundraise and promote the work of the centre said, “This was the first time that a pamper evening had been organised. Local businesses in and around Exeter really rallied around and supported us and once again shows that the people of Devon are caring and generous. We would particularly like to thank the Cat & Fiddle Inn for donating their function room for the event and to everyone who has donated prizes for the raffle as well as the many beauticians etc who donated their time and services free for the evening. All the money raised will go directly to the centre helping local cats and kittens. The work of the centre relies entirely on contributions and donations from members of the public.”

The centre is located just off the Sidmouth Road, just past the Cat & Fiddle Inn, opposite the Exeter City FC training ground.

The centre is hoping to organise a similar event next year and are hoping that a larger venue could be found to allow even more people to benefit from the treatments on offer and raise even more money for the cats and kittens at the centre. Should anyone be able to offer a venue for their use then they can contact the friends of Axhayes group via email at friendsofaxhayes@gmail.com

For further information about future events, or to adopt a cat, please call 01395 232 377 or email
ExeterAxhayes@cats.org.uk or visit their Facebook page (cpexeteraxhayes)/Twitter @ExeterAxhayes