I’ve always wanted to do the Boxing Day dip, so I saw this as a great opportunity to do my bit to support PDSA’s £1.6 million appeal to build a new PetAid hospital, as well as taking part in renowned local event.

I’ll be joined by staff for our call centre, located on the Pallion Industrial Estate, plus we’ve also roped in some family members. It’s an extreme way to burn off the Christmas dinner!

The appeal has so far raised around half a million pounds, which is amazing given that we’re in a recession. But there is still a long way to go until we hit our target. You can sponsor our Boxing Day dip in the sea. Other ways to support PDSA include buying a brick, or why not hold your own fundraising event in the New Year to help keep away the January blues?

Bricks are only £5 and animal lovers can purchase them either online at www.pdsa.org.uk/buyabrick or by calling freephone 0800 917 2509. Twenty four thousand bricks are needed to construct the facility, which will house six consulting rooms, two operating theatres, a dental theatre, a digital X-ray room, a diagnostic laboratory, together with canine, feline and small furry pet recovery wards and a critical care unit for infectious cases.

To find out more about the new Sunderland PDSA PetAid hospital, please visit www.pdsa.org.uk/sunderlandappeal