I had planned to give myself a break from writing this week, but here I am, having just returned from the UK and feeling too inspired NOT to share one of my experiences with you today – visiting Tower Hill Stables Animal Sanctuary (with my boyfriend, Quinn).
It’s hard for me to even begin to put into words how much it meant for me to meet Fiona Oakes in person at her sanctuary (Tower Hill Stables), where she and Martin Morgan dedicate their entire lives to providing a forever home to around 450 rescued farm animals.
Fiona is the most humble hero I’ve ever met… A true champion for animals who has a story so extraordinary that they made a documentary about her called Running for Good that I HIGHLY recommend watching for a full-body-chills viewing experience! 
(That’s Percy bear in the picture, by the way, who you get to know when you watch the movie.)
Fiona, with her extreme authenticity and altruism, combined with her super-human athletic abilities, deserves a global spotlight… not for the purpose of fame, which she gives zero shits about, but rather to support her mission of amplifying the voices of farmed animals and funding her sanctuary.
That said, from what I’ve learned, she’s been let down time and time again, like when she was cut out of the Game Changers movie at the last minute without an explanation, and when Rich Roll trashed an episode they recorded without offering to re-record (and for some reason refusing to follow her or the sanctuary on social media).
Martin, Fiona’s partner in running the sanctuary, generously put Quinn and I up for the night in his home, gave us the grand tour of the sanctuary letting us help out where we could, shared his food with us, and gave us the inside scoop about the struggles they face.
The operating cost of the sanctuary is around $30,000 UK pounds per month. Martin’s salary used to cover a lot of that cost, but now that he’s retired they rely more heavily on donations which have been declining each year. 
Martin, Fiona’s partner in running the sanctuary, generously put Quinn and I up for the night in his home, gave us the grand tour and let us help where we could, shared his food with us, and gave us the inside scoop about the struggles they face.
The operating cost of the sanctuary is around $30,000 UK pounds per month. Martin’s salary used to cover a lot of that cost, but now that he’s retired they rely more heavily on donations which have been declining each year.
And by the way, Martin hasn’t had more than ONE day away from the sanctuary in over 20 YEARS, and he only mentioned it because I asked (he wasn’t complaining).
If you haven’t listened to the interview I did with Fiona for the Rise & Thrive podcast, it’s my all-time favorite interview. Check out the podcast episode here and watch the Running for Good documentary here.
Follow Fiona and Tower Hill Stables on Instagram, subscribe to Fiona’s inspirational Patreon account here for as little as $1/month (for just $5 you’ll be buying a stack of carrots for the animals each month), and/or donate directly to the sanctuary here if you can.
Every little bit helps!
Ella Magers, MSW
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