A CHARITY has come up with an inventive way to raise money - putting their mascots through their paces.

Ferne Animal Sanctuary is hosting a virtual ‘Mascot Mayhem’ event, with each of their mascots set to take part in seven challenges over six weeks.

A spokesperson for the charity said: “During lockdown a staff newsletter encouraged the team to come forward with ideas to raise much-needed funds.

“Our animal care team put forward the suggestion of a number of challenges using our 10 mascot costumes and once regulations were relaxed this felt like the perfect opportunity to raise funds as well as give our team a boost.

“The mascots are our animal care team but I couldn’t possibly reveal which person each mascot is.”

Members of the public have been invited to sponsor each mascot and the winners will be entered into a prize draw to receive a pet/animal portrait by artist Julian Babb.

Businesses have also sponsored mascots and the organisation who wins will receive free use of the conference room at the sanctuary, near Chard.

The spokesperson added: “We hope that Mascot Mayhem will become an annual event and I think there’s no doubt that virtual and online are here to stay.

“We look forward to a time when other events can resume but there will always be a place for virtual.

“This is because it is so inclusive with no limits geographically or physically and everyone can feel part of the Sanctuary.”

Business sponsors include Design Bean, RH Advertising, carlypress, PKF FrancisCLARK, hornsbury mill, Netitude, Hornsbury Haylage & Animal Feeds Ltd, CWBuild, Andy Browne Property Services, and MailaDoc.

For more details and to take part, visit ferneanimalsanctuary.org/mascot-mayhem.