Pigeon fanciers will flock to charity sale

The sale is being co-ordinated by Garry McCafferty, from Todmorden Road, Sharneyford, a contributor to the magazines British Homing World and Racing Pigeon, with help from fellow pigeon racers in Rossendale.

He wrote an article about Joanne Harris, 16, from Shropshire, revealing she needed £250,000 to travel to America for a life-saving heart and lung transplant.

In it he launched an appeal for pigeon enthusiasts to donate birds for sale.

He said: "Because Joanne is Downs Syndrome her family have been told the transplant will not be performed in this country, so they set about raising money to send her to the States.

"When I wrote about Joanne, asking for donations for the sale, people responded in droves.

"We've had more than 150 pigeons donated, some of whom are sons and daughters of champions.

"Fanciers are travelling from all over Britain and Ireland to auction their birds and buy others.

"The response has been overwhelming. I think this is going to be the largest sale of young birds there has ever been.

"We have had to call a halt to accepting any more birds for sale but are still accepting donations towards the appeal. "Some of the birds might raise £5, others could go for £600 to £700, you just don't know until the day.

"A number of people have indicated that they will be travelling long distances to be at the sale, just to get one particular bird.

"The most expensive pigeon ever sold was in Belgium and it had won 27 out of 27 races and went recently for £1.1million.

"We won't make that but should certainly raise a lot of money."

The sale will be at Rosemount Working Men's Club, Stacksteads, on April 4.

Gary and his fellow organisers very much hope that Joanne and her family can be present for the sale.

Doors open at 10am and the auction will begin at 1pm.

For more information contact Garry on 01706 875292.

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