Atherton football fans take kits and aid to Moroccan donkey sanctuary

Bolton Wanderers supporters Vince Hankinson and Mark Riley, both from Atherton, alongside their friend Bev Lord, from Shaw, have taken supplies to Jarjeer Mule and Donkey Refuge, which is on the outskirts of Marrakech.

The trio have brought football kits, donated by Bolton Wanderers and local teams Atherton Collieries, Hindsford AFC and Crosfields JFC, to be distributed across Africa, including the refuge.

They have also delivered bandages and blankets for the refuge, which is run by two friends Bev used to know before they moved from the UK to Morocco.

Those who donated and the owners of the donkey sanctuary. L-R: Mark Riley, Charles Hantom, Susan Machin, Bev Lord, Vince Hankinson and Tom, the London taxi driver (Image: Bev Lord)

Bev said: “It’s me, Vince and Mark. The background is that Vince used to work for Greater Manchester Police at Strangeways Prison.

“I am in the prison service, I was working at prison service litigation and that’s how I know Vince.

“With Susan and Charles who run the sanctuary – Susan was a barrister and Charles was a solicitor, they came to retire in Morocco and took in one donkey.

Equines at Jarjeer Mule and Donkey Refuge (Image: Bev Lord)

“Now they have 240 equines.”

Vince and Mark's generosity did not stop at the sanctuary.

Bev did not go further than Morocco but her travel companions were set to head on to another African country.

She said: “Their last stop is Gambia, they made these trips to Africa quite a few times, taking football kits and wheelchairs and school uniforms, things like that.

“I knew Vince was coming out to Morocco, as people who work at the refuge founded a five-a-side football team using uniform shirts and he wanted to get them some kit.

“We thought if we’re going to Morocco and getting football kit for the refuge, we’d ask them what else they needed.

Kits being worn by kids at the refuge (Image: Bev Lord)

“Vince got a picture on Facebook of him getting the kits from Bolton Wanderers, they were great.”

"Three local junior football clubs, Atherton Collieries, Hindsford AFC and Crosfields JFC from Warrington, have also donated kit.

“We’ve also met up with a guy from London who ended up bringing some stuff in a London taxi, so that was quite an odd sight.

Vince receiving kits from Bolton Wanderers to be distributed around Africa (Image: Bev Lord)

“And with the football kits, coming off the back of Morocco’s World Cup, enthusiasm is high for football.

“It makes me feel quite humbled, we need to get them some footballs next!”

For more information and to donate, visit Jarjeer Mules and Donkey Refuge's website, at: https://www.jarjeer.org/.