Last November Dolly came into our home and into our lives here in Suffolk. She came after a 2,500-mile trek across Europe from Turkey where in her first few months of life she had been abused, shot and rescued from the streets there.

Many of you will know that since then I have been working closely with Animal Friends of Turkey, a newly registered UK charity set up specifically to help dogs and cats escape sordid and sorry lives by finding them loving forever homes in the UK. Earlier this year I joined the charity as one of its founding Trustees. Some may have seen the website I have built and maintain for them Animal Friends of Turkey

Today Dolly is happy, she is safe, she is loved, she is playful and she rewards us all for the love and care she is shown with an affection and playful joyousness that makes everyone smile. We want the same for more of these dogs that we see living in such awful circumstances during our regular visits to Turkey.

By the end of its first year there will 50 fewer animals living on the streets in Turkey as a result of the work of AFOT and its wonderful supporters. Animals that are now enjoying a new happy life with families in the UK. We hope next year to double that number but it takes funds and it's not cheap.

Like many others, we give a lot of support to a number of noble and worthy causes - our local Hospice, Alzheimer's Society, MacMillan to name but a few. But we hope that some of you will be able to find it in your hearts to support AFOT as well on this occasion.

Animal Friends of Turkey is coming up to the first anniversary of its founding in May, and to mark the event the charity has organised a 10k sponsored circular walk from Lytham to Fairhaven via Witch Wood on Sunday, May 19. You can see full details of the event here AFOT sponsored walk

Dolly will be making the walk on that day and we will be aided by her special helpers, me and Jane. It would be great if any of you could find it in your hearts to sponsor Dolly (and me and Jane) to help other animals find and share the happiness Dolly has found. We would all be extremely grateful.

Some of the stories behind the dogs we are currently trying to help are heartbreaking. It costs AFOT between £1,000 to £1,500 to successfully treat, prepare and transport each animal to a new home in the UK. Nine dogs are travelling in April and May alone.

The success we have had has been pleasing but our funds are wearing thin. We have a growing and generous band of supporters but there is so much more we need to do.

Please help if you feel you can.

And if any of my family and friends live close enough and want to join Dolly and us on the walk that day then it would be great to see you there.

Thank you for reading this