Party for Animals Worldwide 2007 (and what Pink is really like)

It's quite possible that you were thinking our work would take us to more exotic places than Cardiff (which is not to demean this revitalised city at all) but SPANA is here for a quite special event, and one which, ultimately, will help fund our work around the world.

About two years ago now, we were contacted by Katie Hobbs, who works at the Monkey Sanctuary Trust in Cornwall. She explained that for some time she had wanted to initiate an event which would benefit smaller animal charities and also highlight the work they were doing, but encapsulated in a positive, fun experience – a Party for Animals Worldwide (or PAW as it is better known.) Her enthusiasm was infectious, but there was also something else – a real sense of determination. You could tell that if anyone was going to pull this off it would be her, because she wasn’t under any illusion about what a challenge it was going to be. And so, while a lot of other people might have given it their best shot but just had to accept that they didn’t have the skills, experience and time to see it through, Katie kept on going.

And so what has this got to do with us or Cardiff? Well, PAW had its inaugural event on Tuesday night, and to say that it was quite a party would be a massive understatement. Through an enormous amount of hard work and an absolute refusal to give up Katie secured the agreement of multi-million selling artist Pink to headline at PAW 2007, ably supported by the wonderful Rachael Warwick and New Jack Union. Each beneficiary charity (SPANA, Marine Conservation Society, PDSA, Animals-Asia Foundation, Born Free, and the Monkey Sanctuary Foundation itself) was able to have a stand at the event (held in the Cardiff International Arena). As a result, lots of people who hadn’t heard of us signed up for information and our video shown on the big screen was a huge hit (thanks to Carme & Mads at Macmillion for editing this, and to Coldplay for allowing us to use their very appropriate “Fix You” over the footage – well we are a veterinary charity after all!)

Our “I ♥ Donkeys” badges also rushed off the stand, even more so once Jo (our Direct Marketing Co-ordinator) cleverly got the bar staff to wear them – after that everyone wanted one! And once the initial rather terrifying surge of fans swept into the hall, Katie swung by and told me to be at the crash barrier by the stage door at 7.30 so that we could meet Pink herself. One person from each charity was invited backstage and after a while rather nervously mentally rehearsing what we were going to say, this small, calm Zen-like figure quietly appeared in front of us shaking our hands and asking us with genuine interest about what our respective charities did. I’ve never been very good with meeting celebs – I’m always rather in awe of them (the legacy of a bad experience with Johnny Morris when I was about 15 I think), but there was something about Pink that set everyone completely at ease. The most surprising thing was that this controlled almost timid person could transform herself, 40 minutes later into the mesmerising, jaw-droppingly powerful stage performer that held her audience enraptured until the last note died away.

Afterwards, in the chilled-out surroundings of the after-show party (at the groovy Sodabar in St Mary Street) we got the chance to share a drink with Katie and talk turned to PAW 2008. Pink had been invited to the after-show but her manager (who was the spit of a leaner and slightly trendier Rolf Harris) had explained that after 280 odd gigs, Pink was exhausted. She had two nights left on the tour, and that was that. So thank you Pink, Katie, Balmlane (who did so much to help and support Katies efforts) and roll on PAW 2008.

Simon Pope
Communications Director