A Welsh cattle farmer and leatherworker, has set her sights on raising £5,000 for The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) by raffling off a stunning and totally unique hide chair worth £2,000.
Even more exciting is the news that bona fide Welsh hill farming legend and TV personality Gareth Wyn Jones has stepped forward to pick the winner.
Fifth-generation cattle farmer Hayley Hanson diversified into tanning hides and crafting her own luxury leather fashion and homewares accessories alongside raising her British Blue and Aberdeen Angus cattle in Mid Wales.
She launched her own brand – Hayley Hanson – 2011, which is now the only leather brand in the world using hides raised in Wales.
Supporting RABI
All money from ticket sales (excluding the fees from fundraising and payment platforms) will go directly to RABI to help the charity continue its important work.
RABI, which is farming’s oldest and largest charity, offers vital financial support, practical care and guidance to farming people of all ages, including farmers, farmworkers and dependents.
Hanson has supported RABI for many years as the brand charity and has its green collection jar proudly displayed on her countertop.
This year she was asked to give a talk at their fashion show, but this has been cancelled due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
Deeply concerned for the charity after virtually all of its usual fundraising events were cancelled or postponed she decided to help out in another way.
“Farming truly runs in my blood so I’m well aware of the amazing work carried out by RABI all over England and Wales,” she said.
When my local branch had to cancel their fundraising fashion show, I thought about how much they would miss the money which would have been raised and knew I had to help.
“This chair has been admired by friends, family and customers alike whilst on display at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair or in our showroom, so it’s definitely hot property… I hope that by offering it as the prize, I will compel people to snap up a ticket (or 10!) and raise lots of money for RABI.
“It’s truly a unique piece, made from a beautiful, huge Welsh bred Simmental hide, and with tickets priced at just £5 we hope to make it a viable option for everyone to support this amazing cause and have a chance of winning this beautiful prize.”
Tickets for the raffle cost £5. The winner will be drawn at random by Gareth Wyn Jones on September 7. The winner will be required to collect the chair from the farm.
