Fundraiser Wesley Dowd to trek across Scotland with dog Finley for Rochdale Children's Moorland Home

Local fundraiser Wesley Dowd and his dog Finley are gearing up for the week-long West Highland Way trek to raise money for the Rochdale Children’s Moorland Home.

The duo will traverse 96-miles of Scotland’s wild landscapes between Milngavie and Fort William between 9-16 May.

Wes and Finley annually tackle a long-distance fundraiser for the Moorland Home – which provides a week’s holiday for under privileged children – but this year’s is likely to be Finley’s last fundraising walk before he retires.

The Jack Russell, nine, recently underwent an eye removal operation, and requires regular medication for his remaining eye.

He’s accompanied Wes on all of his fundraisers, and “has covered more miles than a transit van.”

 

 

 

Wes, who has been nominated for the Man of Rochdale title in previous years, said: “Finley is my best mate. To some people, he’s just a dog, but he isn’t just a dog. He’s made lots of children happy. We’re a team.”

The Rochdale Children’s Moorland Home is the oldest children’s charity in Rochdale, having provided holidays for disadvantaged children for over 120 years.

Each year between March and September, around 1,300 children receive a holiday they might not have had otherwise.

Donations can be made directly to the Rochdale Children’s Moorland Home via PayPal:

• www.paypal.com/GB/fundraiser/charity/3118104