Charity cheque presentation with a difference!

With donations as critical now as they've ever been, the Quorn Hunt have not allowed the COVID-19 outbreak to thwart their plans to make a presentation of a cheque to their local air ambulance charity.

The original intention was to present their cheque for £1,200 directly to the charity, however, this had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The hunt showed their determination to ensure the vital funds reached the charity by hatching an alternative plan and enabling a litter of eight-week-old hound puppies to perform the presentation.

"With the cheque written out, our huntsman, Ollie Finnegan, took to the task of getting them to pose. Those who are familiar with looking after puppies know this is no easy mission and in typical pup fashion, they seemed more keen on exploring the vicinity, rather than sitting to pose for the photograph," explained a spokesperson for the Quorn Hunt. "After perseverance, the pups eventually sat still long enough for the shot and the cheque ceremony went ahead."

The cheque for £1,200 which was going to the Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance was raised by the Quorn Hunt Tumbler's Club. Those who fell off - without hurting themselves - during the 2019/20 season, were asked to pay a donation towards their fundraising efforts. The fund was topped up from proceeds raised from a game held at a dinner on 7th March in Melton Mowbray.

Polly Portwin, Head of Hunting at the Countryside Alliance, who praised those involved said: "Hunts never fail to show their commitment to raising funds for the worthwhile charities and other causes. In typical hunting fashion, the Quorn Hunt has shown their resourcefulness to ensure that these funds reach their intended destination when most needed."

A spokesperson for the Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance said: "On average our crew attend five rescue missions per day and we do not receive any government funding. This means that without the support of people like you, we simply could not do the lifesaving work that we do. We are lifted into the air by your generosity."

The winner of the Quorn Hunt's Tumbler's award, who received a cut glass whiskey tumbler, was Ross Bentley from East Leake who is recorded to have involuntarily dismounted four times out hunting on a Quorn Monday.

Header image courtesy of Frances McKim