Donkey makes hospice patient’s 'wish come true'

A hospice has helped a resident's wish come true by arranging for a donkey to visit her.

St Margaret’s Hospice in Taunton put out an appeal for help after patient Jacquie said it was her dream to give a donkey a back scratch.

Britney the donkey‘s owner, Richard Norman responded and brought her in to meet Jacquie and other patients at the hospice.

The charity said the "out of this world...power of social media" had allowed them to find the donkey.

Mr Norman said three-year-old Britney, who has been in films and TV shows, including secret projects with Hollywood A-listers, is a "real character" and is "always busy".

After the visit he told BBC Somerset: "I had a lump in my throat. She [Jacquie] was stroking her and we really made her day.

"We did a circuit around everybody, the patients and families loved seeing her and stroking her.”

He added: "I take for granted being able to see her and stroke her, when these people don't get that...we enjoy doing things like this.

"If you want to make the time, you can make the time."

Hayley Milne, the hospice’s head of communications, said it was a "mission" to find the donkey but it made Jacquie's "wish come true".

"There are lots [of donkeys] in Somerset but for one reason or another, some didn't have the facility to transport the donkeys to us or their donkeys didn't travel well, so we were beginning to struggle,” she said.

"But through the power of social media, we put out a plea, and our incredible community just supported us.”

Ms Milne said despite Jacquie being poorly, she was able to scratch Britney's back.

"It was an incredible sight...it really lit her up," she said.

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