Famous comedian and Netflix star Ricky Gervais has donated £200,000 to two Kent animal charities.
The Retreat Animal Rescue Farm Sanctuary and Flori’s Friends Rescue found out this morning that they received the funds as part of 22 charities he’s splitting £2.43million between.
The Retreat Animal Rescue Farm Sanctuary in Ashford will receive £100,000. Picture: Sue Ferguson
The Retreat is based in Ashford, while Flor’s is found in Chartham Hatch, Canterbury.
Speaking about the major donation from the “absolute hero”, a spokesman for the site in Ashford says it means the “absolute world” to them.
A statement said: “Today we found out that we have been included alongside 21 other incredible charities to share an extremely generous donation from Ricky Gervais.
“The Retreat Animal Rescue will receive a donation of £100,000 which will be monumental to the animals and future of our sanctuary.
“With our running costs averaging quarter of a million pounds every year and steadily increasing, this donation means the absolute world to us and will make 2026 a lot less stressful.
“We are so very grateful to have the assurance that we’re able to feed all of our wonderful rescued residents and keep our gates open.
“We want to express enormous amounts of gratitude to Ricky for his support as well as to Jane Fallon and Peter Egan.
“We don’t have enough words to say quite how much this means to all of us here at The Retreat.”
Posting on social media this morning, a Flori’s spokesman said: “It’s an absolute honour to be one of Ricky Gervais’s chosen charities.
Ricky Gervais, StockThe donation will make a “monumental” change to the charity, a spokesman said. Picture: Paul Amos.
“Since 2015 we have grafted day and night, even when poorly we have pushed through and worked the full shifts.
“Some days it feels like there is no point, but finally we are starting to feel like there is some light at the end of the tunnel.
“Thank you so much Ricky from all of us here.”
The money comes from profits the artist earns on his tours, which he chooses to share each year with animal charities.
The sanctuary, located at Cripple Hill, said the funding will make a significant difference to its animals and daily operations.
