Your Champions 2011: Lache Animal Sanctuary volunteers nominated for team award

Oct 26 2011 by Katie Bamber, Chester Chronicle

DEDICATED animal-lovers who turn out in all weather to look after abandoned horses and donkeys at a Chester sanctuary have been nominated for the Your Champions team award.

Every day of the year, Mary Brown, of Downsfield Road, Chester, heads to Lache Animal Sanctuary on Green Lane to feed its residents and muck out their stables.

“We do it for the love of the horses, but it’s nice to be recognised,” said Mary, 60.

Mary was nominated in the volunteer category, but asked that she and hard-working husband and wife Archie and June Clive, who run the sanctuary, be put forward as a team.

The sanctuary, which houses 10 donkeys and 14 horses, provides lifelong care for abandoned and unwanted animals.

Mary admits it can be difficult when horses, which she has often spent years caring for, pass away.

“I’ve seen them come and go but they’re all buried here,” she said.

The sanctuary’s volunteers spend their own money on the animals’ feed and frequently brave wind, rain and snow to tend to the horses – with last year’s harsh winter proving a particular challenge.

“We don’t care though. We love them,” added Mary.