Iceni News More Good News For Minidonks

Minidonks Run Into More Good News

Melanie and Richard with Russet Maude Magic, the Minidonk Mascot

Miniature Donkeys for Wellbeing (Minidonks), a Norfolk-based social enterprise, which delivers mood-boosting miniature donkey visits across the region, has had a huge boost to their finances thanks to a local marathon runner.

When Melanie Sturman heard that the Minidonks had lost most of their income due to the pandemic, she decided that she just had to act.

“As a dementia nurse I understand the positive impact that the Minidonks have on the people they visit. I just couldn’t stand by and see them struggle. It is so important that they are able to survive the current crisis and are able to get out and about delivering their amazing wellbeing Minidonk visits.” Said Melanie.

Melanie is an ultra-marathon runner and organises Thetford Iceni Marathon and Half Marathon running community. She decided to hold a virtual 5k and 10k fun run for the Mindionks which took place over the weekend of 5th/6th September.

“200 runners from as far afield as New York and California took part. The messages of support for the Minidonks were so heartwarming and I am delighted to have been able to donate £1,500 to the Minidonks.”

Minidonk MD after her first ever 5k run

Sarah McPherson, Founder and Managing Director of Minidonks said, “We can’t thank Melanie and all the runners enough for what they have done. The support they have all shown means that we will be here, ready and waiting, to start our visits again as soon as it is safe for us to do so. And as a bonus, it has got me running for the first time, and I even managed my 5K in a donkey suit!”

Miniature Donkeys for Wellbeing Ltd (Minidonks) is a social enterprise (not for profit) that provides therapeutic visits by miniature donkeys to people in a wide range of settings. They take their donkeys to care homes, hospitals, psychiatric units, dementia groups, special schools, youth groups, autism groups and more. They have delivered over 350 visits across Norfolk and Suffolk since their foundation. The motivation for setting up the enterprise was the founder’s experience of both her parents developing dementia and benefiting from interacting with the donkeys. www.minidonks.org.uk FB @minidonks.org

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