What Worthing Festival means to us

Canine Partners and the RNLI at Shoreham each received 5,000 from the Worthing Lions, who run the town's annual festival.

The event, supported by the Worthing Herald and Splash FM, runs for two weeks and this year starts on Sunday, July 20.

Canine Partners sets up partnerships between dogs and disabled people to help them go about their day-to-day lives. It trains the dogs from when they are puppies for two years at a cost of 10,000 for each dog.

The dogs help with tasks such as unloading the washing machine and getting things from supermarket shelves as well as providing companionship.

Using the proceeds given to them from the 2007 festival, Midhurst-based Canine Partners created four partnerships in the Worthing area.

Tony Holley, Lions chairman, said: "Canine Partners told me they've had such a good response from being a festival charity recipient.

"It's not just the money they received from us but I understand people have been leaving money in wills and making donations."

Malcolm Wells, senior community fund raiser at Canine Partners, said: "We have received incredible support from Worthing Lions and we look forward to an ongoing relationship. The money has been put to good use helping people with disabilities."

The RNLI has used the money towards its 1million appeal for a new lifeboat and station at Shoreham. Tracey Harrison, regional appeals manager, said: "We are extremely grateful to Worthing Lions for their much valued support."

It is hoped enough money will be raised to build the new station within the next three years.