THE UK ROADSHOW RAN FROM 13 TO 30 JUNE, ENDING WITH A GALA BANQUET AND GRAND AUCTION IN LONDON.

Ciska and Jane were thrilled to be able to attend this wonderful evening and Ciska realised her dream of meeting Jill Robinson. 

The evening was an emotional mix of elation and sadness, particularly during Jill’s moving presentation about the progress (or sometimes lack of it) that Animals Asia is making in the Far East.  Despite some harrowing photographs of the injuries these ill-treated bears have suffered for years on the bear “farms”,  which reduced many of us to tears,  Jill’s exceptional words were an inspiration to us all to continue with our work.

The Phoenix Palace Chinese Restaurant (supportive of our cause and offering a vegetarian menu) was filled to capacity and not only with volunteers and supporters such as us, there were many famous celebrities from the world of  British showbiz and also important world wildlife conservationalists.

Funds were raised by ticket sales, a table offering merchandise, a raffle and the Grand Auction, expertly run by Paul Martin, BBC TV “Flog It” presenter and patron of AAF.  Fellow patron, actress June Brown (well known as Dot Cotton in BBC’s Eastenders) provided impromptu fun and her own personal touch to the evening.

AAF’s own Christie Yang gave us an update on the important Doctor Dog and Friends or Food? programmes.  There was an uplifting speech from Terry Waite, who himself spent nearly five years in captivity as a Beirut hostage and who, although witnessing so much human suffering in the world, is committed to harmonising our relationship with animals.

Famous wildlife artist David Shepherd kindly donated a limited edition print of his wonderful, valuable painting of a moon bear to the auction and, finally, Virginia McKenna presented Jill with ONE THOUSAND POUNDS on behalf of the Born Free Foundation.

Our own personal founder in Holland, Ciska de Hilster, was able to hand over ONE THOUSAND EUROS in cash due solely to her own tireless and dedicated fund-raising since she set up moonbears.nl only three months ago.

We returned to Holland with a suitcase full of merchandise to help with our fund-raising in future – we will be offering this via the website shortly and through various braderies across the country throughout the coming months.

Jill and her excellent team were exhausted after such a long and intense roadshow but remain dedicated to the cause of totally eradicating this barbaric practice of bear-farming.   They are a constant inspiration to us at www.moonbears.nl - do please join us and help us in any way you can.

Jane van Zwieten