Leading science and care for animals

Published: 30/04/2015 11:08:22

Where there’s a Jayne, there’s a way – zoe's journey uk supporting cancer research

Jayne May set out to raise £5,000 for the AHT’s cancer research in dogs in 2015. In just three months, Jayne has motivated an army of fundraisers and raised more than £13,000 for the fundraising campaign, Zoe’s Journey UK. And she’s not stopping there!

Jayne started Zoe’s Journey UK, supporting the AHT, after her own experience with her Golden Retriever, Zoe. Zoe is nearly 14, but a year and half ago, aged 12, Zoe was diagnosed with stage three lymphoma. Jayne decided to go ahead with treatment and against the odds - Zoe responded to chemotherapy and after 20 months of treatment has beaten her cancer. However, there are hundreds of dogs that aren’t so lucky.

Jayne said: “The idea of Zoe’s Journey UK came to me after a friend of mine, Maria Magnussen, lost her dog to Lymphoma only hours after asking for support on our Facebook Group.

“Too many dogs are dying of cancer and this needs to change. I know what it’s like to be told that your dog has cancer, the fear, and that there are no guarantees. However, I’m one of the lucky ones because my Zoe has now been discharged and is fit and healthy and will see her 14^th birthday thanks to Steve Tasker and the amazing veterinary team at Watkins and Tasker Veterinary Group who saved Zoe’s life.

“I believe more needs to be done so that more dogs, like Zoe, can have a better chance of beating cancer. That’s why Zoe’s Journey UK was set up and I chose to support the AHT’s cancer research in dogs. It’s only through research that we’ll be able to save more dogs from this horrible disease.”

Zoe’s Journey UK started life on Facebook, through the group Golden Retrievers England UK, started by Janet Wellens, and the support to date has been phenomenal. From a handful of donations grew several committed volunteers and an online auction, where anyone can offer to sell an item with all of the proceeds going to the AHT. There is also a line of Zoe’s Journey UK merchandise available and the range is getting bigger all the time.

Spurred on by a common cause, so many people have been touched by Jayne’s resolve and have held events, donated their time and resources and even volunteered to do such things as a skydive or shaving their head!, all to support Zoe’s Journey UK in the hope that these combined efforts will help to save several dogs’ lives from cancer in the future.  

Andrew Simmonds, Head of Individual Giving and Trusts at the AHT, said: “We’re absolutely blown away by what Zoe’s Journey UK has been able to achieve in such a short amount of time. Since the end of January so many wonderful people have rallied behind Jayne and are making a huge difference to our cancer research.

“The AHT is one of a handful of organisations in the world with a dedicated canine cancer research programme, and together, our vets and scientists want to gain a better understanding of how to treat and diagnose cancers in dogs. However, as with cancer research in humans, this work takes time and needs support.

“Zoe’s Journey UK is going to make a very big difference to our work, and for hundreds of dogs, and we can’t wait to see what’s next for this amazing group which is currently smashing through milestones at a rate of knots! Well done Zoe’s Journey UK, our thanks go to all of you for your continued hard work and support.”

Jayne May added: “None of this would have been possible without the incredible team behind me, many of whom have sadly lost dogs to cancer, who have been supporting me all the way. We’re committed to the AHT and know we’re helping to make a difference in this important fight against cancer in our dogs.”

If you’d like to find out more about Zoe’s Journey UK, you can donate online here, join the Facebook Community here, or view the Zoe’s Journey UK Auction Page, here.