A seven year old boy from Stockport has managed to raise a whopping £470 and counting for Manchester & Cheshire Dogs’ Home ahead of the festive period.
Harley – a passionate animal lover from Marple Bridge – became an official donations collector for the local rescue shelter after beginning a two-week mission earlier this month to raise funds and treat the dogs who are sadly without homes this Christmas.
A registered charity founded in 1893, Manchester & Cheshire Dogs’ Home carries out vital work at its Harpurhey shelter to rescue, care for, and rehome our four-legged friends, but winter is always a tricky time.
And this is why Harley wanted to lend a helping hand.
Rallying together his friends, family and the local Stockport community, Harley asked for donations of tinned dog food, treats, toys, and even old bedding and blankets.
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He also started a GoFundMe page for his mission, setting an initial target of just £20.
But with a little help from his Mum – who shared his fundraising efforts to social media and garnered hundreds of responses from members of the public – Harley managed to smash his target not once, but twice, and has now raised over £470.
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How brilliant is this?
Items and funds were donated from all across the local community, and in no time at all, Harley had managed to fill his conservatory at home with toys, food, blankets, towels, treats, leads, dog coats, dog beds and more.
Everything a pup could ever need.
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Word also made its way to higher places too, as the young fundraiser proudly received a visit, letter of encouragement, and donation of items this week from Marple Councillor and Chair of Economy & Regeneration Steve Gibbon, as well as a £10 voucher from pet supplies chain Pets at Home towards his collection.
He even earned himself a worthy shoutout on the Manchester & Cheshire Dogs’ Home Facebook page too, with a post that went on to amass over 800 interactions and shares, as well as plenty of messages of support from far and wide praising his impressive fundraising efforts.
There’s no doubt he is making everyone proud after what has been a turbulent year, and his Mum has told us he is “so grateful to everyone who has donated items or money” over the past couple of weeks and are continuing to do so.
After hitting his target, Harley has decided that a chunk of the £450 raised will go directly to the home to help contribute to their vets bills.
And with just four weeks to go until Christmas Day, his mission still isn’t over.
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Harley’s fundraising collection for the Manchester & Cheshire Dogs’ Home is still open until 4th December.
Whether it be donations of items or funds, anyone can get involved, so if you have few extra pounds to spare to contribute to a worthy local cause this Christmas and help out a real Mancunian superstar, you can chip in to his official GoFundMe page here.
More information on the lifesaving work by the Manchester & Cheshire Dogs’ Home can be found via its website here.
Review | Leon Thomas at Manchester Academy – ‘Mutts Don’t Heel’ but this gig healed me
Thomas Melia
American singer-songwriter Leon Thomas visited Manchester Academy last night, performing hits from his deluxe album to a sold-out crowd of more than 2,600.
One year after an exclusive London MUTT Live date, Mr Thomas returns to the UK with the ‘MUTTS DON’T HEEL’ Tour, venturing to five cities, including the music capital of the North: Manchester.
The night started off just how it should’ve done with ‘HEEL’, as the audience were welcomed by the drum-loop and a chill atmosphere from the start.
Now, it wouldn’t be a Leon Thomas gig without at least one Ty Dolla $ign collaboration making the setlist, and there’s plenty to choose from with a new one dropping just over a month ago, ‘miss u 2’.
Leon Thomas performing hits at Manchester Academy (Credit: Audio North)
The funk-influenced musician opted for ‘FAR FETCHED’, and the audience was in the palm of his hand. No matter which of the four link-ups he chose, it was always going to go down well – Manchester never disappoints.
Leon didn’t even have to ask the crowd to bring more energy; they already matched him. When he sings, “For someone who don’t ask for favours, I’ve done way too many favours”, on ‘PARTY FAVORS’, he really meant it.
Last year, Leon Thomas dropped PHOLKS, a project which saw him exploring old-school funk and soul sounds even further and ‘Just How You Are’ had even the shyest dancer pulling out a little two step.
This isn’t the only hit that sent the crowd into a frenzy; ‘Baccarat’ and its impressive psychedelic guitar solo had jaws literally falling to the floor at Manchester Academy.
His songs might not be dramatic or extravagant, but they don’t need to be. Leon’s artistry prevails when he’s softly singing, and you’re still able to detect each instrument.
Leon Thomas brought the MUTTS DON’T HEEL Tour to Manchester Academy (Credit: The Manc)
‘Breaking Point’ is an easy-listening soul track that had all 2,600 Leon Thomas fans in our feelings as we realised we were coming to the end of a phenomenal concert.
And of course, ‘Mutt’ – his biggest single to date: a bouncy and swag-filled number that sticks in your head for weeks on end – sounded even better when backed by a live band as I discovered last night.
There was some insane musicality, distinct bangers and impeccable live arrangements that elevated the original studio recordings. Maybe ‘Mutts Don’t Heel’, but Leon Thomas definitely healed me.
He wasn’t the only cool cat playing last night either:
Could the reaction to Casemiro’s swansong Man United season see him stay ‘one more year’?
Danny Jones
Casemiro has arguably been up there with one of the best Manchester United signings in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, after the likes of Bruno Fernandes; maybe not in terms of how it’s impacted the wider transfer budget, but now he’s about to leave, most supporters aren’t ready to let him go.
Truly, if they had their way, many would happily keep him for at least “one more year”, as they continuously chanted during the most recent home game.
However, with the footballing veteran himself admitting that he’s been left moved by the response and certainly basked in the chants for him to stay following the win over Aston Villa last weekend, another one in which he chipped in with a key goal.
Casemiro scored the opener in what went on to be a vital 3-1 win in their pursuit of Champions League places, and has made it clear that, like the rest of the squad, this is his only goal for the remainder of the 2025/26 campaign.
But with United now looking closer to securing third or perhaps even chasing down second place, according to many (some have even gone further than that…), this current, albeit still early doors, resurgence under Michael Carrick could be the start of a corner turned for the one serial winners.
However, fans have seen many false dawns at Old Trafford over the past decade or so, and there is obviously the risk of him ultimately spoiling what should now be a fine and fitting farewell.
Then again, after speaking in a recent interview with Sky Sports, the 34-year-old said it’s been “way more” special than he was expecting since he revealed his plans to leave on a high, and stranger things have happened.
You only have to look at Mohammed Salah and Liverpool, who looked all set to go before eventually U-turning and signing a new deal – though contract terms no doubt helped swing those negotiations.
As one of the highest-earning players not just at Man United or even the Premier League but in Europe, he’s already earned serious amounts during his time with the Red Devils, so there is a belief that the incumbent INEOS board would be happy to shift him off the books and reinvest in replacing him.
#mufc are in advanced talks to sign Bruno Guimaraes for around €80m, but renewed interest from Real Madrid threatens to complicate the proposed move [@Reuters, @fernandokallas]
The likes of Guimaraes, previously courted Carlos Baleba, Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton, Wolves duo André and Joao Gomes have all been linked with possible moves to Manchester of late.
In fact, depending on how much room Jim Ratcliffe and co. have for spending on recruitment, they could potentially even cover the wages of more than one signing in the middle of the park or other positions that they feel may require further reinforcements.
All this is still very much in theory, of course, and while Casemiro has seemingly confirmed that he will depart this summer, who knows how much of the recent reaction and outpouring of love and support from the Stretford End and beyond could potentially sway the outcome?…
Then again, do you think reconsidering the decision would be a wise move, or at his age, is four years in the English top flight enough?
Emily Sergeant -
25th November 2020 
