News reports located on this page = 4.

Appeal for information after collapsed giant rabbit found dumped in box

THE RSPCA has launched an investigation after a giant rabbit was found collapsed, dumped in a box in Liverpool. RSPCA Animal Collection Officer Heather Cook was called to Aspinall Crescent on Friday night, 24 April 2020. He was found in a cardboard box inside blue plastic, with carrots and food, dumped beside a public footpath.

Heather Cook said:- "A member of the public discovered this poor bunny dumped in a cardboard box. He was collapsed and unable to use his back legs. He was in an appalling condition; riddled with infection with overgrown nails. He was also suffering from terrible flystrike, a painful condition caused by flies laying eggs which hatch into maggots and eat into the flesh."

Heather rushed the brown, giant lop rabbit to a vet to see if he could be saved. "Unfortunately the bunny couldn't stand and was in a really bad way so the vets felt the only option was to end his suffering and put him to sleep," she added.

The RSPCA is now investigating how the rabbit came to be in such a poor condition, and who is responsible for abandoning him.  Heather added:- "We know times are hard but it's not acceptable to leave an animal to fall into such a poor condition or to suffer as this poor rabbit did. I'd like to hear from anyone with information about who owned this rabbit or where he's come from."

Anyone with information should contact the RSPCA's appeal line on:- 0300 123 8018. To help the RSPCA keep rescuing animals like this rabbit and keep our Animal Hospitals and Centres running for emergency treatment and round the clock care through these unprecedented times, please donate whatever you can spare at:- RSPCA.Org.UK/Covid.

Desert Island Discs inspired study to identify music preferences during lockdown

A new study inspired by the popular BBC radio programme Desert Island Discs aims to identify the personal connections people associate with listening to music. Music is something that people turn to for solace, comfort, and reminiscence in times of crisis, and remembering past memories can be a good way of helping to plan for, and think about, the future. Keele psychologist Professor Alexandra Lamont is leading the international study which will analyse people's music preferences to identify how they talk about their favourite music, who and what it connects them to, and how it might support them. The study aims to establish how music can support people throughout their lives and help them cope with challenging situations, such as the current global Coronavirus pandemic. The DIY Desert Island Discs toolkit asks participants to choose 8 pieces of music they would take with them if they were cast away on a desert island with no access to the outside world. Participants will choose and listen to their 8 tracks, and reflect upon the memories and feelings that are associated with each piece. The 10 step study can be completed either online or offline, and can be undertaken in the participants' own time. Professor Lamont has worked with the Desert Island Discs archive for the past couple of years with her students to explore the personal connections associated with specific pieces of music, with the themes of identity, love and support coming from this analysis.  The research team also consists of academics from Durham University, Westminster University, The University of Athens, The University of Milan Bicocca, and Padova University. The study will be launched in Italian and Greek as well as in English. Professor Lamont said:- "I hope the study gives people a chance to reflect on something precious to them and may help connect them with fond memories or with others. From a research point of view, it will generate rich data on the relationship people have with their favourite music and how it fits into their life stories."

Better Body Fitness take on the 2.6 Challenge for Maggie's, as People living with cancer need Maggie's support now more than ever

PEOPLE living with cancer need Maggie's Merseyside support now more than ever; which is why the cancer support charity is calling on everyone to take part in the 2.6 Challenge. With many people with cancer self isolating and facing changes or delays to treatment, the professional support offered by Maggie's Merseyside by phone, email or online is needed even more than before to help those with cancer through this challenging time. To help them do this during this health crisis, Maggie's is calling on supporters to take part in the 2.6 Challenge to raise funds by creating any kind of challenge they like round the number 2.6, do 260 sun salutations, make 26 cakes or run 26 miles on your treadmill. Better Body Fitnesshave recruited all their members and friends to join an online 26 workout session to raise vital funds for Maggie's.

Better Body Fitness are asking people to donate ₤5 to take part and asking members to share their page to gather sponsors for a fun online working on Tuesday 5 May at 6pm which is for all the family.Founder and Head Coachof Better Body Fitness Mark James said:- "we are excited to help Maggies by providing a fun and family friendly online workout for all ages and abilities. We are honoured to help where we can and keep people active and help support the amazing work that Maggies do across Merseyside. Let's get the family involved and have some fun and join us on JustGiving.Com."

1 Better Body Fitness member taking part is Rachel, in memory of her Mum Sandra as she used to visit Maggie's on her appointment days at Clatterbridge. "Maggie's really helped my mum and my family at a time when we needed it the most. The amount of support they give to their users is amazing. It's an honour to raise money for such a worthwhile cause. To sign up to do your own 2.6 challenge just follow this link to find out more:- Justgiving.Com. We need your help to support people like, Moriah who is caring for her husband whilst he lives with his head and neck cancer, she has been supported by Maggie's Merseyside over the phone as she has struggled with increased stress and anxiety. Thank you for everything you have done for me, you have managed to put me back together, I am no longer the broken, wreck of a woman that I was on Monday when I 1st spoke to you on the phone. You are such a gentle, compassionate, articulate woman, thank you for sharing your wisdom and advice. Thank you for taking me under your wing, it's a safe place to be."

Maggie's Merseyside Centre Head Kathy said:- "We are so grateful to anyone who takes on the 2.6 Challenge for Maggie's. People with cancer are having a particularly difficult time just now and need our professional support now more than ever; I can't wait to see all the photos of the incredible challenges on social media."

Maggie's Merseyside relies almost entirely on voluntary donations to be able to offer this high quality, professional support. To find out more about Maggie's Merseyside please call:- 01513344301 or email:- Liverpool@MaggiesCentres.Org.

Tissues Helping Issues

SERIOUS Tissues, a 100% sustainable toilet paper brand (recycled), has been in development by the Change Please team for close to a year with the original intention to focus on tackling climate change with a commitment to plant trees all over the world.

But the outbreak of Coronavirus has presented a more immediate need. So, the team behind Change Please, which helps homeless people off the streets by training them as coffee baristas, have brought forward the launch of Serious Tissues from the summer to start making a difference right now. Rather than focusing on climate change, every penny of profit will go towards helping patients and the amazing NHS staff and volunteers who are dealing with this crisis on behalf of all of us.

100% of the profits from Serious Tissues will be in aid of the NHS Charities Together Covid-19 Urgent Appeal. The Appeal is being coordinated by NHS Charities Together; the umbrella organisation of 170 NHS Charity trusts across the country. The money will be used to help NHS workers including Doctors, nurses and volunteers plus patients as they deal with the extraordinary and unexpected demands of fighting this pandemic.

The funds will be used where they are most needed and distributed by local NHS charities. They will provide wellbeing packs including food deliveries, snacks, refreshments, wash kits and overnight stay kits to help the workers through the demanding long shifts they're putting in to fight the disease. The money will also help with the cost of travel, parking and accommodation for staff and volunteers, any unexpected requirements over the next few months and will support the recovery of NHS staff and volunteers after the pandemic, in the form of respite, rehabilitation and mental health recovery.

The target for the NHS Charities Together Appeal is ₤100m and, since launching on the 23 March 2020, they have already raised ₤83m with a number of high profile corporate and celebrity donations.

Chris Baker, 1 of the Founders of Serious Tissues said:- "The world has changed rapidly in the past 100 days, so we've quickly mobilised and changed our focus from climate change to fighting this terrible pandemic. The brand was created to tackle the world's most serious issues and there is nothing more serious at the moment than Coronavirus. We want to do all we can to help the heroes on the frontline within the NHS so 100% of our profits will go to this urgent NHS appeal. Over the past few weeks, we've seen people up and down the country panic buying toilet roll and we believe we can turn this behaviour into a force for good. There are just under 20 million families in the UK. If we can get 1 million families to change to Serious Tissues (5%), we can give at least ₤10million to the NHS appeal which will be vital both during and after the pandemic."

Ellie Orton, CEO of NHS Charities Together said:- "We're so grateful to be receiving the profits from Serious Tissues' sales. The funds will help us support the wellbeing of NHS staff, volunteers and patients affected by Covid-19. It really is a brave new world when even our toilet tissue can help make such a difference to so many lives."

When the pandemic is over, the brand intends to return to tackling climate change, committing to planting a tree for every roll of toilet paper they sell. Every year, 10 million trees are cut down to make toilet paper across the world, a statistic that beggars belief when we consider the importance of trees in capturing carbon and mitigating climate change. Regular toilet rolls come primarily from trees. Serious Tissues don't. They are 100% recycled, made from paper recycled from offices and homes and as such, they offer a far more sustainable option in the bathroom while still offering the strength and softness of product that we are all used to, with the Premium range comparing favourably to anything available in the supermarket.

The product is available to buy at:- SeriousTissues.Com. It will be delivered direct to your home and it can be bought as either a single order or as a subscription; meaning you will continue to support NHS Charities Together throughout the pandemic and can avoid the supermarket. The Standard range is ₤24 per box of 36 and the Premium range is ₤28 per box of 36. Both come with a 5% discount for subscription.