A reminder for ALL members and associate members: The AGM will be held on Wednesday the 25th of January 2012, commencing at 8pm in the Dunadry Hotel, Templepatrick.

Here are the lucky winners:

1st prize – £300 Cash – Ms Debbie Swandel, Belfast
2nd prize – P&O Five Day Ferry Return Crossing to Scotland – P Geary, Belfast
3rd prize – £100 cash – Mrs Smyth, Ballyclare
4th prize – Case of Wine – N Totton, Belfast
5th prize – Lunch for Two, Bayview Hotel Portballintrae – G Withers, Lisburn
6th prize – £100 cash – Donna Moody, Newtownabbey
7th prize – Christmas Hamper – Jenny Walsh, Glenavy
8th prize – One Night B&B for Two, Hermitage Cottage – Mrs Lillian Gregg, Newtownabbey

Thanks to everyone who gave up their time to sell tickets, and those who bought them, and a huge congratulations to all the winners!

Take a look at some pictures of the day below.

N.B.: Due to the recent closure of the Sanctuary for renovations, the final meeting point this year is Module Road and Race, 3 Windmill Court, Greystone Road, Antrim (first right after exiting Greystone Roundabout).

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Sanctuary volunteers with Shane Steele (white t-shirt, on the right) and Sanctuary residents.

A league of highly motivated members of the Mid-Antrim Animal Sanctuary, spurred-on and headed by Shane Steele (Sanctuary Kennel Assistant), took part and completed the Belfast Marathon on Monday the 2nd of May in gruelling temperatures which exceeded 19°C!

The group of 32 animal loving competitors raised an astonishing sum of over £5,000.00 for the Sanctuary residents! Every penny of this awe-inspiring sum will benefit the lives of over 120 residents to an extraordinary extent.

Clare Walker, Shelagh Gormley & Jane Hilland with the pups

Within the last few days 3 tiny reasons why this money is so important were dumped at the Sanctuary doors. Too young to have left their mothers, three pups (left), barely a month old, find themselves pushing the already crammed facilities beyond capacity. These orphans will need round-the-clock care, a special diet and medical treatment making the funds raised through the hard work and training of the supporters all the more relevant.

Margaret Wade (manager), Tess (the German Shepherd) & Shane Steele (kennel assistant).

With every new comer, there is an ageing old timer, whose needs are just as pertinent. Tess (right) was taken in by the Mid-Antrim Animal Sanctuary in the year 2000, as her eyesight had started to fade. 11 years later, Tess is completely blind and dependent on her devoted carers. She maintains a standard of living which is not only enjoyable, but stimulating and comfortable. Without her routine, friends, dietary supplements and medical attention her story would be very different, if not tragic. As anyone who owns a pet knows, having a dog or a cat means having a duty of care and the ability to cover expense. Tess had not been ‘worth it’ in her original home.

Firmount Fliers: Fergal Dillon (Vet), Paul Chapman (Antrim Dog Warden), John Lavery (Vet) & Janine Brownlees (Veterinary Nurse).

At the Mid-Antrim Animal Sanctuary every member of staff, every volunteer, and every supporter is committed to care. Every resident is ‘worth it’ so with this in mind Shane and his committed crew achieved much more than a marathon, they achieved a minor miracle. Sustaining, medicating and loving an ever-growing brood of society’s unnoticed members in the face of economic belt-tightening is a task which reflects the determination involved in running the longest marathon.

Our younger volunteers who took part in the Fun Run.

Running the full 26 miles:

- Shane Steele (in 3hrs 35mins), Jason Parker (in 3hrs 55mins) and Vivienne Scott.

Relay teams:

- Firmount Fliers: Janine Brownlees, Sarah Blelock, Fergal Dillon, Paul Chapman and John Lavery (4hrs 18mins).

- MAAS 1: Zara Morrow, Karen Morrow, Caroline Shaw, Pauline Nicholl and Veronika Opocenska (4hrs 59mins).

- MAAS 2: Aiden Howe, Helen Norton, Valerie Gamble, David Millar and Jackie Montgomery (4hrs 47mins).

- MAAS 3: Gary Baxendale, Michelle Baxendale, Lorena Wilson, Darren Sales and Lyndsay McNiece (5hrs).

Chinese Evening

Bambou Restaurant Templepatrick

Thursday 24 March – 7 for 7.30pm

4 Course Evening Meal

Entertainment by Willie Drennan

£20.00 per person

Contact Janet 07792 325 570

Final confirmation required by 19th March.

Having done this last year, we can safely sat that the food is amazing, and that this promises to be a great night out. See you all there!