Animal and Arrow lovers unite for a worthy cause.
Another noteworthy charitable fundraiser has come across our desks here at Entertainment Jolt, and this time it benefits our furry friends. Arrow fans are familiar with the character Felicity Smoak, played by actress Emily Bett Rickards. If you’ve ever been on her Instagram or Twitter account, you’re probably familiar with her rescue dog, Ophelia.
Today’s fundraiser focuses on homeless dogs around the UK: Dogs Trust. We sat down with the sponsor of the Gofundme page and here’s what she had to say about this worthwhile cause.
What made you want to do this?
I’ve witnessed my friends raise amazing amounts of money for charities around the world by uniting as a fandom, and I wanted the opportunity to do the same for a charity that was close to my heart, and also that supports a cause important to one of my personal heroes, Emily Bett Rickards. Her love for her rescue dog resonates with me, and I wanted to take the opportunity to unite her fans to support the importance of rescuing an animal.
What’s your goal for this campaign?
My current goal is £1500, which would fund a neutering procedure, vet bills, vaccinations and a cozy bed for ten dogs going through a rescue and rehoming process.
How much money have you raised so far?
The fundraising page was set up just two days ago, so we’re still in the very early stages of the project.
Where are the funds going?
The funds are going in their entirety to Dogs Trust – the UK’s largest dog welfare charity and cares for over 15,000 dogs each year through its network of 20 rehoming centers in the UK.
What do you hope to accomplish with this campaign?
I’m hoping to raise some of the vital funds that Dogs Trust rely on to continue their work and to continue helping dogs. I’d also like the opportunity to show Emily that her passion for charitable giving isn’t just an inspiration to her fans, but that it enables us to make a visible impact.
What made you chose this charity in particular?
My family has always been a big fan of the work Dogs Trust do. I can remember being a child and us going to Dogs Trust to rescue our very first dog, and I currently have a 14-year-old rescue dog that we adopted from Dogs Trust when she was 8 years old. We were even inspired by their work to take in a dog that needed a home along the way. Dogs Trust is so close to my heart, and it will always continue to be. Their work has meant I’ve grown up blessed by the unconditional love that comes from sharing your home with a dog, and if that’s the difference it’s made in my life as a human, it’s easy to see how incredible the work they do is for dogs in need.
Have you always been an animal lover?
Always, especially when it comes to dogs. My dogs are my whole life, and I’ve always grown up around them.
Do you plan on expanding your campaign to include other parts of the world or just sticking to the UK for now?
Dogs Trust is a UK charity, but their works are becoming global. They currently have projects across Bosnia enabling local vets to perform neutering procedures safely to assist with population control in stray animals and help keep animals off the streets, and have joined with Mission Rabies to vaccinate over 180,000 dogs across India and Malawi. Raising money for Dogs Trust doesn’t just enable us to contribute to their work within the UK, but also in their growing worldwide projects that aren’t just providing vital services, but also ensuring that vets across the world are trained in these humane measures to deliver efficient healthcare and improving shelter facilities.
Do you have any other projects in the pipeline?
I don’t have a set project in mind at the moment, but I’ve been fundraising for fifteen years for various charities and certainly plan to move onto another project after this one has completed.
What has the reaction to your campaign been so far?
My friends have been incredibly supportive, as friends within a fandom always are. I didn’t hesitate with talking through the idea of a fundraiser in Emily’s honor with my friends, as I know from other fan projects just how generous and giving a community this has become.
Where can people go to donate?
Donations can be made through the GoFundMe page here: https://www.gofundme.com/emilyfansfordogstrust
How long is the campaign going on for?
At the moment I’m planning to keep the campaign open until the beginning of May. The hope is that Emily Bett Rickards will attend the London Heroes Fanfast event in May again, so at the beginning of May the full donation will be turned over to Dogs Trust, and hopefully we’ll have the opportunity to meet Emily and show her not only the generosity of her fans, but also the amazing work that becomes possible because of it.
If you or someone you know has a charity you’d like us to spotlight, comment below and we’ll get in touch with you!
