2017 is shaping up to be a very exciting year for the Animal Health Trust (AHT), the UK’s leading veterinary and scientific research charity, which celebrates its 75th Anniversary this year. The charity dedicated to the health and wellbeing of dogs, cats and horses may only cover 100 acres in Newmarket, but the impact of its research and veterinary expertise spans the globe.
Dr WR Wooldridge, founder of the AHT
The AHT was founded in 1942 by vet Reginald Wooldridge, who wanted to see veterinary medicine advance at the same pace as human medicine. His aspirations have led to the AHT owning Europe’s first dedicated veterinary MRI machine, and pioneering its use in veterinary medicine (1992); being one of the first laboratories in the world to offer DNA testing for inherited diseases in dogs; and the AHT opening the only centre in Europe with a purpose-built Cancer Centre to deliver radiation therapy to dogs, cats and horses suffering from cancer (2012), to name just a few achievements from the last 75 years.
The Trust still believes that the best treatment relies on the best knowledge – and it is the leading UK charity where research and treatment are carried out in one place. The AHT is special because every penny of profit made is re-invested into lifesaving research. This research discovers cures and treatments, and helps to prevent disease and injury in the first instance, putting an end to needless suffering.
Even if your animal has never visited the AHT, it will still have benefitted from the AHT’s research and continuous education for vets and scientist of the future, which helps countless more animals than can ever be treated in its clinics.
Dr. Sue Dyson with horse post-surgery
To mark the Anniversary, the AHT were joined at its base in Kentford, near Newmarket, by some of its most passionate supporters and grateful clients on Tuesday 28 March for a celebration event. Many of the guests either have had their animals treated at the Trust, have benefitted from its research, or simply love animals as much as the team do and care about animal health.
Fundraisers exchanged stories on how their training was going for events such as the London Marathon; whilst clients were re-united with the vets that helped their pets continue to be in such good health. Guests also had the opportunity to look behind the scenes in each of the AHT’s clinics, to see where and how the dedicated vets and nurses provide such excellent care for very sick and injured dogs, cats and horses; and heard presentations on the AHT’s mission and history from the AHT’s CEO, Dr Mark Vaudin, and Head of Individual Giving and Trusts, Mr Andrew Simmonds.
AHT vet performs a flexion test on a horse
“We’re so excited about celebrating our 75th Anniversary this year,” says Dr Vaudin, “We’re often the unsung hero when it comes to animal health, so we hope our ambassadors here today will help us spread the word about all the amazing things we’ve achieved – and hope to – throughout the rest of the year. Seeing some of patients return today with wagging tails is testament to our science providing real-life animal benefits. I’m sure it was a nice change for these patients to be visiting the charity without needing to go for a check-up! Fingers crossed 2017 will be another year we make history at the AHT.”
The AHT has a calendar full of events throughout the year to continue the anniversary celebrations; including its annual Charity Race Day at Newmarket’s July Course (10 June) and UK Equestrian Awards in London (31 October). Through these events, and with the support of individual fundraisers and animal lovers, the AHT has set itself the ambitious target of raising an additional £75,000 this anniversary year, through events and challenges, which will go towards the AHT’s biggest capital fundraising campaign in recent years – to buy a new MRI machine. The total cost for this is £400,000, which will be raised through a combination of direct mail appeals, grant applications and the £75,000 anniversary campaign.
The AHT’s dedicated teams of vets, nurses and scientists aim to make animals’ lives better today, tomorrow and forever. If you want to find out more, want to get involved with the celebrations, or want to show your support visit: www.aht75.org.uk
