SOME of a collection of more than 100 handmade goat coats go on display for one day only this Saturday, raising money for mental health charity MIND.

All are welcome to view Marion White’s collection of ‘coats for goats’ that she has made, when they go on display at Highampton Village Hall, Beaworthy, from 10am to 4pm this Saturday, October 6.

It is free entry, and parking will be available, with donations for MIND, and a couple of Marion’s goats will attend, dressed to impress!

At the exhibition, visitors will also be able to hear Marion’s story. Marion wanted to support this charity, after losing her beloved son Darren to mental health crisis in 1995.

The story of her ‘goat coat’ making started seven years ago, after she lost her favourite goat, Jacob. A ‘mascot’ of the Ruby Country Market, Jacob used to attend in his ‘Coat of Many Colours’, which Marion had made with another lady, and Marion would also wear her colourful coat alongside Jacob.

Marion said: “When Jacob passed on I did not want any other goat to wear his coat as it was. I thought I would make it look different by sewing a little teddy bear on to it. From this came the idea of making more coats for goats. This was the start of my great adventure!”

She says her hobby is therapeutic and has got her ‘through some dark times’, and wants to raise money for MIND as although Darren never had a chance to be helped in a young persons unit, Marion hopes other young people might have that chance.

As well as at the event, donations can be made online at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/goatsincoats