A FUNDRAISING group in Bude is reflecting on a decade of raising money for a good cause.

For Bude’s branch of Animal Free Research UK (AFRUK), 2025 marks its tenth anniversary and the group came into the year with one impressive ambition - raising £10,000.

Animal Free Research UK funds and promotes science that entirely replaces the use of animals in medical research, with the goal of finding cures for human diseases faster and without animal suffering.

With their cause in mind and an aim for the year set, the group got to work, working hard to raise funds for the charity. Thanks to their impressive efforts, the group has rounded off the year, having raised an impressive, £11,833.72.

Community ambassador, Steph Jones-Giles said: "It's been an absolutely fantastic year. Thank you to everyone within the Bude community who has helped make this year so extraordinary, we have raised an amazing £11,833.72.”

However, this isn’t the only impressive achievement. Thanks to 2025’s efforts, the group’s total sum raised has now surpassed £70,000.

Steph continued: “This means that our overall total since we began is a staggering £73,510.18, what a way to celebrate our 10th anniversary. I couldn't be prouder of the core members of the Bude group who work tirelessly for the charity, and the community I have made my home for the last 22 years.There is simply nowhere like Bude!”

The group work closely with Professor Lorna Harries at the University of Exeter, she said: “My team and I are so grateful for all the support the Bude AFRUK team have given us over the years. Continuity of funding makes such a difference to research progress and together, we can make real progress”