TWITTER FANS RAISE £3,000 FOR FANNY, THE GIPSY HILL STATION CAT
A massive £3,000 has been raised for Fanny, the Gipsy Hill station cat, after she was hit by a car and needed an emergency operation following an appeal on Twitter.
Looked after by the RSPCA and her vets in Penge the story has attracted the attention of the London Evening Standard.Fanny has her own Twitter account at @TheGipsyHillCat, which includes a brilliant photo of her sitting on an Oyster ticket reading machine at the station.Among the messages of concern was one from Dulwich and West Norwood MP Helen Hayes.
HOW THE DRAMA UNFOLDED:
Lynley Oram to Crystal Palace Local 27 July:
A little different to the usual lost cat. Sadly Fanny the Gipsy Hill station cat was hit by a car this evening. It was an accident, he couldn’t have avoided, and the driver stopped. But Fanny took off.
Edited: Update from owners on her Twitter feed – she has been found and is in an RSPCA hospital. She is very unwell so fingers crossed please.
Helen Hayes [email protected]_ Jul 27
Sad to read that special local character @TheGipsyHillCat was hit by a car today & ran away
The Gipsy Hill Cat [email protected] Jul 28
Hello All, Fanny has been found and is currently in an RSPCA hospital. She is very unwell and all our fingers a crossed!
Fiona Pattison @fiona_pattison
@TheGipsyHillCat is she insured? Happy to lead a fundraising effort if not.
The Gipsy Hill Cat [email protected] Jul 28
Afraid not. That is very kind though. We have a few pennies aside but looks like a big operation ahead.
Fiona Pattison @fiona_pattison
@TheGipsyHillCat serious offer. I’m a fundraiser so it wouldn’t be a problem. Given the joy she’s given so many people it would fly.
The Gipsy Hill Cat [email protected] Jul 28
Thank you Fiona. That would be amazing!
Fiona Pattison @fiona_pattison
@TheGipsyHillCat a fundraising page has been set up. Just waiting for @JustGiving to approve! Paws crossed.
The Gipsy Hill Cat [email protected] Jul 28
Thank you so much! You’re amazing! Any excess funds to go @SNARLLondon who are amazing too!
The Gipsy Hill Cat [email protected] Jul 28
Thank you so much Fine. We are all truly humbled at how nice everyone has been!
The Gipsy Hill Cat [email protected] Jul 28
Thank you so much! And to everyone else. We’ve had so many tweets so I’m sorry for those we haven’t responded to.
The Gipsy Hill Cat added,
Jane @janenotvictoria
£1,600 after an hour? AMAZING! @TheGipsyHillCat
The Gipsy Hill Cat [email protected] Jul 28
We can’t thank you all enough! What a fantastic Twitter community. And from all over the world. It’s amazing
The Gipsy Hill Cat [email protected] Jul 28
Thanks again everyone for hitting the target in an hour! Just to be clear we will still use the money set aside and then the money raised will be used on top. All surplus to go to @SNARLLondon
The Gipsy Hill Cat [email protected] Jul 29
Looks like the op is going ahead today. Will let you know as soon as anything is heard from the vets. Thanks again for all the support!
The Gipsy Hill Cat [email protected] Jul 29
FYI – Surgery went well but she’s in a critical state as it was a major op. Fingers remain crossed and the next few days will be important.
The Gipsy Hill Cat [email protected] Jul 30
Good news from the vets. Fanny has responded well to the surgery and is now off oxygen. Not out of the woods but this is a great start!
38 retweets 191 likes
The Gipsy Hill Cat [email protected] Aug 1
Back home!
The Gipsy Hill Cat [email protected] Aug 1
Can’t believe you have raised £3k! Funds aren’t released for 30 days. As the RSPCA treated her for a discounted rate the plan is to give them £500 extra. There are some more costs for observation and medicine, but after that has been finalised we are hoping there will be a nice bit for @SNARLLondon. subject to no major setback of course. Once again thank you so much everyone! Please note that the money raised will be used over and above our own money set aside.
The Gipsy Hill Cat [email protected] Aug 1
And a special thank you to @fiona_pattison who set the fundraiser in motion.
SNARL @SNARLLondon want Fanny recovered and happy. The rest if it does happen will be a lovely bonus xx
The Gipsy Hill Cat [email protected] Aug 1
You deserve it!
Stephen @pianomoving
@TheGipsyHillCat How is Fanny progressing today? congrats to Fiona for a brilliant solution implemented at lightning speed!
The Gipsy Hill Cat [email protected] Aug 3
Back to the vets today for a post op check up. All good so far thanks
Tanna_Troika @SwannTanna
Missing our ticket mistress!
Thank you! Might be a few more weeks yet!bestcornishcat @bestcornishcat2
@TheGipsyHillCat how about a party on the platform when Fanny returns to work? Cake on sale in aid of SNARL?The Gipsy Hill Cat [email protected] Aug 10
Sounds amazing!
Jola Stencel @Firebird71
@TheGipsyHillCat How’s the recovery going? Hope you’re having your humans fuss over you lots!
The Gipsy Hill Cat [email protected] Aug 13
Hi Jola, I’ve spent some time with the vets for observation. All okay at the moment. Thanks for asking!
How’s @TheGipsyHillCat doing? XThe Gipsy Hill Cat [email protected] Aug 16
Hi Laila, got a bit of a cough (diaphragm issues) and a limp. Not sure if that will ever go but happy to be alive!Jo Marshall @jomarshall2
@TheGipsyHillCat Hope you are feeling better? Missed you on my journey to hospital yesterday
The Gipsy Hill Cat [email protected] Aug 16
Aww thanks. Hopefully back at work in two weeks! I hope you work there by the way!
Lillian @Tweeter_MyCat
Is it horrible of me to wish you never go outside alone again? Such a scare! Happy you’re okay, tho. Out of the hosp myself
The Gipsy Hill Cat [email protected] Aug 16
My humans would like that but that’s just not the way it’s going to happen I’m afraid.
Tom Goodman-Hill @tgoodmanh
Hope you’re continuing to improve; looking forward to seeing you back on duty soon.
The Gipsy Hill Cat [email protected] Aug 22
Thanks Tom! Hopefully back in action next week but still haven’t shaken this cough so could be a but longer.
Jo Marshall @jomarshall2
@TheGipsyHillCat How u doing?
The Gipsy Hill Cat [email protected] Aug 27
Hi Jo, cough is still there and have a limp but getting better thanks!
sophie D @sophiewophy
miss you (pic)
The Gipsy Hill Cat [email protected] Aug 27
Thanks Sophie! Hopefully back out soon!
The Gipsy Hill Cat [email protected] Aug 27
@TheGipsyHillCat let us know the date. It would be nice to have a celebration. Should we alert Network Rail? The station coffee shop?
Further reading: Gipsy Hill cat: fundraiser for emergency op hits target in an hour after Fanny is hit by a car – Evening Standard story by Hannah Al-Othman Thursday 28 July 2016
