South Wales operator Adventure Travel has named dog rehoming charity The Rescue Hotel as its nominated charity of the year for 2024.
Good causes were invited to nominate themselves for that position, with Adventure Travel having started the scheme in 2021. Once those submissions were received, they were put to public vote via the operator’s social media sites, with The Rescue Hotel coming out on top.
Speaking about the decision, Adventure Travel Managing Director Adam Keen says: “Animals always generate interest among our customers and employees, with most people being able to relate in one way or another to a pet that they have known, owned, loved, etc. at some point in their life.
“There are so many well documented accounts of how dogs have helped people with mental health challenges, anxiety or personal loss, and there are proven medical benefits of dog association among people.
“With that in mind, it is no surprise that The Rescue Hotel generated so many votes. We are delighted to work with it in the coming year.”
Fundraising activities will include sponsored hikes and walks, employee fancy dress days, donations from bus memorabilia sold at auction, and much else. A bus has also been decorated to support the charity.
Toria Acreman of The Rescue Hotel has thanked Adventure Travel for its support. The charity is run by a small group of volunteers around their full-time jobs, but it is ambitious to grow.
“When we saw that Adventure Travel was holding a competition to find its next charity of the year, we were determined to win and we knew that our fantastic supporters would help us in the public vote,” she says.
“We had a vision of dogs peering out of the back of the bus, and we are so delighted to see that vision become a reality. We hope the bus brings joy and smiles to people’s faces as they see it being driven around South Wales.”