Purr-fectly great £10,000 surprise for Shropshire cat rescue centre
When staff at a charity in Shropshire opened the post one morning they expected to come across the usual bundle of bills and flyers.
But instead workers at Shropshire Cat Rescue in Bayston Hill, near Shrewsbury, opened an envelope containing a cheque for £10,000 which came with instructions that the cash should go towards a fund set up to provide a new home for the many felines the charity looks after.
Marion Micklewright, owner of the centre which cares for between 80 and 90 cats and kittens as well as an assortment of rabbits and guinea pigs, said: "We get a lot of post here so I opened the envelope and pulled out the cheque.
"I have to admit, I did do a double take when I saw the amount. I just couldn't believe it.
"It was a bit of a shock. Then I thought I had got it wrong and that it was a joke.
"But then it sunk in and having got over the wow factor I wondered how I could thank the gentleman who sent it to us. I knew he was not someone we had been in contact with before so I went on Facebook and Twitter to say thanks. I hope he saw it as it was so generous.
"He had written a note with the cheque to say that it was for the Purr Project which we launched earlier this year. So that is where it will be spent."
The charity which was founded in 1998 aims to raise £2 million to buy a 10-acre site close to Shrewsbury where they will relocate the centre and expand their animal welfare centre.
So far £276,120 has been raised.
"It is an ambitious plan," said Marion, "but we aim to do it over five to 10 years.
"There is no rush. We need to purchase a site and set it up and have enough money so that we can employ key staff to run the new centre.
"It is ambitious but we believe it can happen. Receiving a cheque like this makes us realise that people do want it to happen.
"We only launched the Purr Project in June and since then we have received two large legacies. This proves it is do-able. This gift we have received is fantastic.
"It has given us a boost especially as it was given to us by someone who is living and who realises that this is something that needs to be done. This extraordinary gift will benefit so many people and animals."
The centre, which is currently running at full capacity, takes in cats and kittens from members of the public and other organisations.
