South Devon Hunt raises over £3,000 for various charities

The South Devon Hunt has held numerous successful fundraising events over the course of the past year, and has raised more than £3,000 for various charities.

The Hunt, based near Newton Abbot in South Devon, recently presented cheques to the Farming Community Network and Devon Air Ambulance Trust during the Devon County Show, held in mid-May at Westpoint, near Exeter.

The Farming Community Network (FCN) is a voluntary organisation that supports farmers and their families through difficult times.  The South Devon Hunt’s Master and Huntsman, Joe Emmett, presented the FCN with a cheque for £1,000 during their Parade of Hounds in the main arena on Saturday 18th May.

Mr Emmett MFH explained:

“We are very proud of all the social events we have organised within our local community, and we are grateful for all the support they have received.  The South Devon Hunt is a farmers' pack at heart, and we certainly couldn’t trail hunt without their continued support.  Times are hard for farmers just now, and farming can be especially lonely in the more remote parts of our area.  Supporting the FCN is our way of recognising the farmers’ support and giving back where we can.”

Mr Emmett later visited the Devon Air Ambulance Trust’s stand at the Show to present them with a cheque for £750.  “We are very lucky to trail hunt in such a beautiful area,” he said, "but it’s small fields and lanes between great expanses of high moorland and a lot of it wouldn’t be accessible by road in an emergency.  We haven’t had to call on the Air Ambulance for many years, but it’s great to know they’ll be there if we ever do.”  The Trust thanked the Hunt for their contribution:

“Each donation plays a pivotal role in helping us to provide critical care for those who urgently need it.  In times of great difficulty, our highly skilled crew members travel through the skies and on the roads to swiftly reach patients in serious need of medical attention and deliver time-critical care.  Donations such as this truly make a difference to the lives of people across Devon and beyond.”

The Countryside Alliance’s Director of the Campaign for Hunting, Polly Portwin, praised the fundraising efforts of those involved:

“Hunts play an important part in their local communities and this is yet another example of the selfless fundraising that hunts and their supporters carry out every year to support good causes which are vital in times of need for so many people.  Registered hunts have donated in excess of £460,000 to different charities over the past year."

Image credit: South Devon Hunt