Special Appeals
Accelerating Towards the Future in Cancer Care | Breaking the Strangles Hold | Breakthrough In Sight for Glaucoma Treatment | Ollie's Fund | London Marathon
At the Animal Health Trust, we are renowned for our expertise, ground-breaking research and validation of new equipment and technologies long before many other veterinary establishments. In order to maintain our position at the top of our game, we are constantly campaigning to raise vital funds which allow us to buy new equipment, employ first class staff and develop ways of improving animal health and welfare.
To find out more about our current appeals, click on the links above or scroll down the page.
Accelerating Towards the Future in Cancer Care
Cancer statistics amongst animals are staggering, with one in four dogs and one in six cats being affected. Here at the AHT, we pride ourselves on our excellent oncology department and the care and expertise we can offer patients.
One vital piece of very advanced equipment we need to be able to reduce these statistics is a Linear Accelerator. This machine works by delivering high-energy radiation beams to break down tumours. This radiotherapy technique can destroy cancer cells, while sparing the surrounding normal tissue.
Our ability to give cancer patients the best possible treatment is currently hampered by a lack of this piece of key equipment. While we are fortunate to have first class facilities and equipment in some areas of cancer management, such as our MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scanner and chemotherapy suite, we are lacking in this major areas that is essential to provide a complete level of care.
The use of radiotherapy is absolutely vital for the treatment of some cancer types, as it is in people. We are currently sharing a radiotherapy facility but this severely reduces the number of patients we are able to treat.
Linear Accelerators are common in US specialist veterinary centres and we know the benefits that they bring. We aim to become the leading veterinary Cancer Centre in Europe but cannot achieve this goal without investment in such technology.
To date we have raised over £300,000 towards a complete upgrade of our imaging facilities. We need a further £900,000 over the next two years and are appealing for funds from other charitable trusts and foundations and from individual donors.
If you would like to help us raise the funds for this appeal, please call the fundraising team on 01638 555648 or email fundraising@aht.org.uk.
Breaking the Strangles Hold – campaign and research update
Two years ago, we launched the ‘Breaking the Strangles Hold’ campaign with The British Horse Society. Our aim was to raise £250,000. This would help develop diagnostic tests and possibly a vaccine to fight strangles.
We are delighted to announce that we have reached our fundraising target thanks to a lot of hard work and generous donations from the general public.
The monies raised, along with funding from The Horse Trust, has allowed our scientists to develop a revolutionary diagnostic blood test to screen for exposure to the infection. We launched the blood test in February 2008 and since then more than 6,700 samples have been tested.
The great news for horses and owners worldwide is the success of this diagnostic work, and other research we have undertaken, has attracted further funding for the project from the Wellcome Trust. We’ve been awarded a Translation Award of more than £580,000 to enable us to reduce the time taken to diagnose the disease.
We are the first-ever veterinary recipients of the award. With the grant, we aim to reduce the time taken to perform the DNA diagnostic test. Ultimately we’d like to produce a point-of-care test that vets can use on site to get a diagnosis in 30 minutes.
In two years time we will have designed and validated the point-of-care diagnostic test. We hope that the test will be mass produced and widely available by 2012.
Breakthrough In Sight for Glaucoma Treatment
At the AHT, we have a dedicated team of ophthalmologists who regularly treat various eye conditions in dogs, cats and horses. One of the most serious eye conditions in dogs is glaucoma, for which, at the moment, there is no real long term solution. Now, however, thanks to pioneering new laser equipment, we may have the answer.
Glaucoma affects hundreds of dogs across a range of breeds every year. Not only is it terribly painful, but will, in a short space of time, cause blindness. It can affect one or both eyes, and is the result of a build up of pressure in the eye.
At the AHT, our team of specialists frequently deals with cases of glaucoma. Head of the Ophthalmology Department is Jane Sansom, who has been treating the disease for years and tried everything – drops, medication and surgery – none of which offer long term success.
In 2006, Jane learnt of a new piece of equipment officially titled endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (ECP), which was proving highly successful in the treatment of glaucoma in people. It involves the insertion of an incredibly fine endoscopic laser inside the eye, which then burns away the fluid-producing areas and reduces eye pressure.
In June 2007, Consultant Ophthalmologist at the Western Eye Hospital, Philip Bloom, came to the Trust to supervise our surgeons in performing the procedure on four dogs with glaucoma. All were successful.
One dog treated was 13-year-old Jack Russell, Polly, who had been coming to the Trust for five years with various eye problems, culminating in the removal of one eye. She then contracted glaucoma in her remaining eye, for which she received several methods of treatment, none to great avail. Polly was a perfect candidate for the laser treatment, and owner Mrs. Bond says her terrier is now like a new dog.
With our own laser equipment at the AHT, we will be able to offer hundreds of dogs treatment which would not only relieve them of the pain of eye disease, but could also help them retain their sight. We will be the only veterinary institute outside the USA offering this treatment.
We have therefore launched our Laser Appeal to raise £50,000 to cover the cost of this incredible equipment, which can also be used to treat retinal conditions.
Mrs. Bond, owner of Polly, said, “This equipment will change the lives of so many dogs and will be absolutely brilliant. I really hope that the Trust will be able to raise sufficint funds to cover the cost.”
If you would like to help us raise the funds for this appeal, please call the fundraising team on 01638 555648 or email fundraising@aht.org.uk.
Ollie's Fund: AHT Canine Epilepsy Research Fund
Epilepsy is a disorder affecting around 1% of the human population and 5% of dogs. It can occur in any breed, although typically some are more commonly affected than others.
Epilepsy can have a huge impact on the quality of life of both the dog and owner and, for this reason, many epileptic dogs end up being euthanased. Ollie’s Fund has been set up to allow researchers at the Animal Health Trust to research into the cause of the illness and prevent dogs like Ollie suffering in the future.
The Trust’s Neurology Unit has several ongoing projects to improve the understanding, treatment and, most importantly, the prevention, of epilepsy. This goal can only be achieved with the help and expertise of the specialist Canine Genetics Department at the Trust. By studying the genetics of the condition in a variety of breeds, it is anticipated that a number of different genes will be identified that play a role in the development of canine epilepsy.
In order to continue this pioneering research, the Animal Health Trust needs funding. Any money raised for ‘Ollie’s Fund’ will go directly towards this project, and will support the work being done to get to the root of canine epilepsy.
For Ollie’s Story, click here.
If you would like to make a donation towards this fund please click here or call the fundraising department on 01638 555 620.
Great Success for AHT Marathon Runners
Huge congratulations go out to the five Animal Health Trust (AHT) supporters who took part in, and completed, the Flora London Marathon on Sunday 26th April.
Two members of AHT staff competed in the race – Maire O’Brien, Senior Secretary and Administrator, finished in 4 hours 18 minutes and Oliver Forman, Genetics Research Assistant took 4 hours 22 minutes.
Three AHT supporters also ran. Robert Webbon, son of AHT Chief Executive Dr Peter Webbon, completed the 26-mile run in 3 hours 29 minutes, and Laura Hudson, whose dog has been treated in the charity’s Small Animal Centre, finished with her close friend and running partner Maire in 4 hours and 18 minutes. Our third and final runner was animal lover Jolene Hammonds, who finished in 6 hours and 17 minutes.
Around £102,400 was raised by the five which will enable to AHT to continue its vital work and research towards the health and welfare of dogs, cats and horses.