Hertfordshire Hearing Dog fundraisers reach £1 million milestone!

Amazing news to bring you as our Hertfordshire Fundraising branch has reached the incredible milestone of raising £1 million for Hearing Dogs!

We held a celebratory lunch at our southern training centre on Sunday to recognise the branch’s achievements and give branch members and staff a chance to reflect on some of the more memorable moments from their 26-year history.

Liz Arendt, who is now President of the Hertfordshire Fundraising Branch, was inspired to form a branch in the region after meeting Bran & Betty Pelton, speakers at a national Hearing Dogs conference.

Liz, who is herself partnered with a hearing dog, explained: “I knew nothing about fundraising when we started, but learned as I went along and from talking to other branches.

“In the first couple of years, we set ourselves a target to raise £5,000 because that’s how much it cost to sponsor a hearing dog puppy’s training in those days.

“Over the years, our fundraising activities have grown from annual Dogs in the Park social events and flag days, to a silent auction, and an event in which those taking part were sponsored to be rescued from the middle of a lake by a Newfoundland dog.

Representatives from the branch were invited annually by former MP for St. Albans, Ann Main, to a Christmas reception held at the House of Commons. Liz and fellow volunteer Jenny Smith also received an MBE for their volunteering services.

Earlier this year, when the branch members were tantalisingly close to their milestone, they received an extremely generous, anonymous £85,000 donation, which tipped them over the £1 million mark.

Liz, 80, who was partnered with her third hearing dog, a yellow Labrador called Rufus, in 2017, explained what motivated her to continue fundraising for such a long time. “I’m a great believer that if you benefit from something, you should try and give something back”, she said.

“My hearing dogs have made such a difference to my life – I couldn’t imagine being without them.

“When I think back to those early days, I could never have dreamt we would raise £1 million! It is down to a great deal of hard work by many people over a very long time.”

Gill Yeates, Head of Community Fundraising, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Liz and her fellow volunteers – they have been an enormous support to our charity over the years.

“We are also indebted to the anonymous donor. Their generous donation, along with the enormous amount raised by the branch, will go a long way to helping us continue our vital work training more hearing dogs to change the lives of deaf people.”