Fundraising with man's best friend

A carnival queen and her dog led the way raising money for charity this weekend.
St Annes Carnival Queen McKenzie Haase with her dog Ben. Photos: Martin BostockSt Annes Carnival Queen McKenzie Haase with her dog Ben. Photos: Martin Bostock
St Annes Carnival Queen McKenzie Haase with her dog Ben. Photos: Martin Bostock
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St Annes Carnival Queen McKenzie Haase led the team of nine dogs from Fairhaven Lake to St Annes Pier on Saturday along with her own pooch Ben, a seven-year-old King Charles Spaniel, raising money for the Alzheimer’s Society.

The 11-year-old year six student at Clifton Primary School in Clitheroe Road, said: “I thought, my friends and grandparents have dogs so it would be a nice idea to walk the dogs and raise some money.

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“It was a really good day raising a lot of money. We have done lots of things this year to help people through fund-raising and had lots of fun while doing it.”

The day itself made £274.38 for Alzheimer’s research, adding to the more than £1,500 that has been raised by McKenzie and her retinue, made up of her five school friends Madison Dufour-Hammond, Sasha Archer, Sammy Crossey, Mia Upcott-Strath, and Bethany Harrison.

McKenzie’s mum, Donna Haase, said: “They’ve done a sponsored walk of Blackpool’s three piers, carol singing at TX Maxx in Squires Gate, coffee mornings at St Annes Town Hall and cake sales at school.

“We are all shattered from it! But it’s all for a great cause.”

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The 49-year-old added: “It’s really good for them to learn from an early age they should give something back to people who don’t have as much as them.

It’s about giving back.

“The collections have become a competition between them now which is great because it’s helping people.”

McKenzie gives up her crown in July but isn’t stopping her duties just yet, with a raffle taking place at the Olive Tree Brasserie in Wood Street on Monday, April 30.

The Alzheimer’s Society is the carnival’s charity of choice.