Press release library

Charities The Blue Cross, British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDLMR) and Girlguiding Lincolnshire North joined together on Thursday 10 March 2011 in memory of young vet Sally Hessey. Sally was actively involved as a dedicated volunteer for all three charities before she tragically died last year. The charities joined to meet Sally’s mum, Anna Hessey, and receive a donation of £3000 for the charities from contributions made at Sally’s funeral.

Sally, aged just 23, died in a car accident on 2nd February 2010. The donations were given at Sally’s funeral in lieu of floral arrangements. The funds were divided between three of Sally’s favourite charities, all of whom she was actively involved with during her lifetime.

Before she died, Sally, from West Rasen in Lincolnshire, had recently realised her lifelong dream of becoming a qualified vet after volunteering for The Blue Cross animal hospital in Grimsby for just over ten years. She began volunteering for The Blue Cross as a Guide when she was about 12 years-old. She began by helping out in the kennels, looking after poorly pets staying overnight. She then worked under supervision alongside veterinary nurses when she began training to become a vet herself. Sally also actively supported the charity’s fundraising activities and helped at shows.

Wendy Adams, Blue Cross head of veterinary clinical services said: “Sally was an enthusiastic and dedicated member of the team here at the Grimsby animal hospital. She is greatly missed and her contribution to the care of all the animals will be a great loss. We would like to thank everyone who made a donation, the funds will greatly help us to treat many sick and injured local animals in need.”

Sally trained as a medic for British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) in Nottingham in 2003, later becoming the co-ordinator and trainer for the Edinburgh and Fife regions. Whilst studying at The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh during 2007, she rescued many seals and even a basking shark, before returning to Lincolnshire as a qualified vet where she continued helping marine mammals in the Skegness area. Stephen Marsh, BDMLR Operations Manager said: “Sally was highly regarded at the charity for her dedication knowledge, skills and good nature and she is missed by all who knew her. The donations received in her name are really appreciated and will go towards helping medics who wish to achieve the level of Advanced Medic but can’t afford the more costly elements of the qualification via a bursary in her name. We also intend to buy new animal models for medics to train with and hope to provide some free places on a training course for some members of the Lincolnshire Senior Section.”

Sally became a member of Girlguiding UK from the age of seven when she joined the Brownies. She went on to become a Guide and Young Leader and finally gained her warrant as a Guide Guider. A fund has been set up following the donations given in memory of Sally which will be used for ‘senior section members’ to help purchase the formal uniform to wear at their royal presentation of their Queens Guide Award. This was the award that Sally had worked towards and gained in 2004. Ann Lynn, County president for Girlguiding Lincolnshire North said: “Sally was forever challenging herself and was an outstanding example of a member of Guiding. She kept the ethos of Guiding alive by sharing her wide ranging qualities with whichever community she was with.”

Anna Hessey said: I am only just beginning to comprehend the social network of people whose lives our daughter, Sally, touched. Also the enormous energy and time she gave to others, both people and animals, and the high esteem in which others valued her. The support and generosity from all who knew Sally is amazing. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them and, with sadness but pleasure, give these donations in her memory to the three charities she worked for. By following Sally's example, I hope more young people and animals can benefit in the practical ways she enjoyed.”
A commemorative plaque in memory of Sally will be placed in the Grimsby animal hospital and the charity will be hosting a fundraising afternoon tea party in Sally’s memory on Saturday 19 March. This is a new annual event for animal lovers to get together in aid of needy animals and will take place between 2pm – 4pm at Scartho Methodist church on Louth Road, entry is £1 per person. Contact the Grimsby animal hospital for more information on 01472 343278.

ENDS
Notes to Editors

•         Photographs of the three charities’ representatives with Anna Hessey are available. Please contact the press office
•         The Blue Cross animal hospital in Grimsby has been providing vital veterinary services to the local community for over 40 years. In July 2005 the new hospital opened its doors after re-locating from a nearby older site. The new building includes three operating theatres, four treatment clinics, new kennelling areas, access for disabled clients and much needed new equipment to handle the thousands of treatments delivered each year.
•         To contact the hospital call 01472 343278. The hospital is open for appointments between 9.30am until 12.00pm and 2.00pm until 4.00pm Monday to Friday.
•         The Blue Cross animal hospital, Grimsby. Coco Markus House, Nelson Street, Grimsby, NE Lincs, DN32 7SH.
•         The Blue Cross animal charity provides practical support, information and advice for pet and horse owners. Through its network of small animal and equine adoption centres it rehomes thousands of animals each year. Its hospitals provide veterinary care for the pets of people who cannot afford private vets' fees. 
•        British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) was formed in 1988, when a few like minded divers got together in response to the mass mortality of Harbour seals in the Wash area of East Anglia, to do what they could for the rescue effort.  Although seal rescue has remained a key component of the work of the charity, it has become progressively more involved in the response to stranded whales and dolphins in the UK. BDMLR were founder members of the Marine Animal Rescue Coalition (MARC), an affiliation of organisations with an active interest and involvement in the management of marine mammal strandings in the UK, with a primary focus of improving the response to live strandings.
•        Since 1988, BDMLR has trained around 9,000 members of the public, coastguard, police, RSPCA and SSPCA and retains 2,500 trained volunteers on its call-out database, responding to over 500 incidents nationwide each year.  Every year, BDMLR trains over 400 volunteer Marine Mammal Medics and has 20 whale rescue pontoons located at strategic points throughout the UK.  In 2004, with the aid of a grant from IFAW, BDMLR set up its own small seal hospital and rehabilitation unit near John O'Groats in the far north of Scotland.
•        BDMLR is a registered charity, number 803438. For more information, please go to www.bdmlr.org.uk or contact Stephen Marsh on 01825 765546 or stephen@bdmlr.org.uk

Media contact

• Louise Lee. Blue Cross media officer on 020 7932 4066 or email louise.lee@bluecross.org.uk