Mum’s £10k fundraising challenge that will help dog sanctuary on the path to becoming self-funding

Lysa Campbell is asking Berkhamsted businesses and individuals to dig deep to support the Baan Unrak Animal Sanctuary, which was set up in 2007 by an English woman.

The director of a management consultancy business, Lysa has already raised more than £5,000, but £4,000 of that was donated by a man living in Canada who was inspired by the story of a paralysed dog named Leo that was treated at the sanctuary before starting a new life in Sarnia.

Lysa, of Meadway, Berkhamsted, decided it was time she gave back after she faced the prospect of paralysis when two painfully bulging discs in her neck had to be replaced with titanium.

Thankfully, she has recovered well from the operation carried out in October, which has kick started her urge help others.

“I had the realisation that you don’t necessarily have all the time in the world to do things,” she said. “Life can take a different turn so if you don’t grasp the opportunities for the things you want to do you might miss out.”

The £10,000 fund will run the sanctuary for a year, while Lysa works in partnership with the owner to develop other plans to ensure the centre becomes self-funding.

She will visit the Thailand base in April with 15 year old son Luke, which she hopes will open his eyes to the tougher side of life.

“Being a 21st century teenager, he has every gadget and widget going and he has no idea what he wants to do in life. I really think at 15 it is time to open his eyes,” said Lysa, who has two sons and two step-children.

The sanctuary has more than 50 permanent resident dogs and Lysa reveals that the cost of one outing to the town’s Costa Coffee would feed the four-legged friends for a day.

“What we are quite literally asking for is the price of a Costa Coffee,” said Lysa.

“We are asking for the support so that we become self-funding within 12 months - that has got to be the objective because people aren’t going to donate forever.”

In return for business donations, Lysa will display the company logos on campaign T shirts and she is also appealing for shops to display collection tins. Email [email protected]

To donate visit www.gofundme.com/fundraisingforBUAS