Formby people praised for helping save death bears

Feb 3 2010 by Danielle Manning, Formby Times

FORMBY people have been praised for their generous donations that have helped save 19 moon bears from an excruciating death.

Animal lover and mother-of-three Sue Prince has told the Formby Times of the huge impact the contributions have made through the charity Animals Asia Foundation (AAF).

The money, from people and organisations in and around our town, has been donated through events organised in a bid to put an end to bear bile farming.

An underwater chess match saw £1,170 donated to AAF, a cheese and wine evening raises over £100 and jewellery sales on Dickensian Day added £300 to the total.

Funds of over £5,000 also flooded through after Sue’s 10 day trek through the northern hills of Vietnam last October.

She said: “People have been touched by the plight of these beautiful creatures after reading about them in the Formby Times.

“I'm still receiving sponsorship four months after I completed the trek, and I would like all those kind-hearted people to know that their money is helping to end the misery for some of the captured bears.

“Animals Asia won't rest until this barbaric trade is ended for good.”

Just last week, over 6,000 miles away in Binh Duong province near Ho Chi Minh City, money that came from pockets and purses in Formby was being used to rescue 19 bears from an illegal bile farm.