26th January 2006
The UK's largest overseas equine welfare charity, the Brooke, is to benefit from a £250,000 partnership deal with Betfair, the leading online sports betting exchange, as the charity becomes Betfair's 'Charity of the Year' for 2006.
The Brooke helps half a million horses, donkeys and mules tirelessly working for some of the poorest communities in the world. From Afghanistan to Jordan, Kenya to Guatemala, the Brooke's teams of mobile veterinary units reach the most vulnerable equine animals providing help where it is most needed.
The deal involves Betfair matching ' up to a total of £125,000 ' all the money raised in a series of innovative fundraising activities planned jointly by Betfair and Brooke throughout the year, which include:
The Brooke's new "racecourse club" where all 59 racecourses have been invited to raise a minimum of £1,000 each as part of this year's highly successful national fundraiser campaign, Courses for Horses
Betfair account holders donating online to the Brooke
Sponsorship raised by racing people participating in the Brooke's overseas challenge rides in Kenya
A Charity Golf Day
Fundraising activities generated by the National Trainers Federation throughout the year (the Brooke's is the NTF's chosen charity)
"Donate the Last hour of your Work" and the "Highest World Cup Goalscorer Sweepstake" involving Betfair's 650 employees
In addition, Triple Gold Cup-winning jockey Jim Culloty - and a Brooke supporter - will be visiting the work of the charity in India in February to highlight the work of the charity to the racing world and how Betfair's money would be put to good use.
"Horses, donkeys and mules toiling for some of the world's poorest communities are working under horrendous conditions, and the Betfair partnership will enable the Brooke to reach a further 50,000 animals this year alone through its mobile veterinary clinics and community-based training programmes," says Mike Baker, the Brooke's Chief Executive. 'Our aim is to reach the five million equine animals that suffer most in the world, which will also make a difference to as many as 30 million poor people, and we are delighted that Betfair has selected Brooke as its "Charity of the Year", and their generous pledge means we are a step closer to realising this ambition.'
Mark Davies of Betfair added, "We are thrilled to be supporting Brooke this year as we try to raise a significant amount of money and highlight the work of this great cause."
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