Bakery raises dough with Elephantastic

Baker, Mark Sheath, who is an Executive Committee Member of the Billingshurst Chamber of Commerce, coordinator of the event in Billingshurst, said, “We are delighted to be part of the Billingshurst herd. The Chamber is coordinating the sponsors of 15 elephants in and around the village with proceeds going to charity”

He added, “This is great for the businesses and retailers involved as there will be a Billingshurst Trail and we will also be part of the Rural Trail. In all, there will be 185 sponsored elephants in Horsham and the supporting villages. Our share of the funds raised will go to the Chamber’s two nominated children’s charities, Dame Vera Lynn Trust and Chestnut Tree House”.

Sponsors decorate their own elephant and Mark’s is, appropriately, in his Bakery colours and holding a loaf of bread in his trunk. “I don’t think Eli’s very realistic loaf will taste as good as our fresh ones as it is made of polystyrene!”.

Billingshurst sponsors are: Jengers Craft Bakery, Global Finance, Book-a-Gift, Essential Harmony, Fowlers Estate Agents, Rotary Club of Billingshurst, Billingshurst Chamber of Commerce/Chestnut Tree House, CoCos, Across the Globe, Henry Adams, Pet Doctors, Austens and the Billingshurst Post Office.

The overall Elephantastic event is organized by The Rotary Club of Horsham, supported by the Town Business Partnership, Horsham Unlimited CIC Ltd, and Horsham District Council. In addition, local charity Born Free is a partner to the overall event and their current campaign to create an Elephant Sanctuary in Europe. The Elephantastic Trails open for five weeks in the school holidays from July 25 to August 30th Elephant Trail and competitions and prizes will be announced on the ‘Elephantastic’ Facebook page and soon to be launched website.

Report and picture contributed by Billingshurst Chamber