Red Funnel is celebrating a paw-some milestone, raising over £10,000 for its Charity of the Year, Friends of the Animals, during the first 6 months of their partnership.
The impressive total has been made possible thanks to the generosity of Red Funnel customers and colleagues, with funds raised through ticket sales, customer donations in ferry terminals, teddy tombola events and the sale of unclaimed lost property.
A trio of Red Funnel colleagues also took on the Isle of Wight Ultra Challenge, raising over £1,000 for the charity, while Friends of the Animals staff and supporters raised a further £3,000 through the event. Deck Hand Emily Syvret completed the full 106km – her first Ultra Challenge – in 25 hours and 32 minutes. But the support hasn’t stopped there.
Alongside fundraising, Red Funnel has donated food and treats to the charity’s senior residents through its Golden Paws Club, helped create marketing materials including selfie frames for community events, and supported Friends of the Animals at this year’s Isle of Wight Festival, where the charity’s glitter painting proved a hit with festivalgoers.
With another 6 months of fundraising still to come, Red Funnel is encouraging customers to help make an even bigger difference by donating whenever they travel.
Fran Collins, CEO of Red Funnel, said:
“Reaching the £13,000 mark is a fantastic milestone, but we’re not stopping there. Together with our customers and colleagues, we’re determined to make the second half of the year even bigger and raise as much as we possibly can for Friends of the Animals.
“The charity helps thousands of much-loved animals every year, and we know how important pets and wildlife are to our Island community. We’re asking everyone to join us in getting behind the partnership, because every donation helps provide food, treatment and a second chance for animals that need it most.”
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Friends of the Animals has been supporting the Isle of Wight’s animals for almost 36 years, providing emergency veterinary care, operating its Pet Food Bank, funding neutering programmes and giving vulnerable animals a second chance.
Helen Sinclair MBE, founder of Friends of the Animals, added:
“We are so grateful to everyone at Red Funnel and to all of their wonderful customers who have supported us over the past six months. Reaching £10,000 is an incredible achievement, and the additional support we’ve received through food donations, promotional materials and community events has made such a difference.
“Every pound raised helps us continue our work caring for sick, injured and unwanted animals, while supporting the families who love them. We can’t thank everyone enough and look forward to seeing what we can achieve together during the rest of the year.”
Customers can continue supporting Friends of the Animals by donating at Red Funnel terminals, taking part in upcoming fundraising events and keeping an eye out for more ways to get involved throughout the remainder of 2026.
Great charity, well done Red Funnel.