Yearly Archives: 2014

Amovate Christmas Party At O Paulo

Eighty-four people attended Amovate’s Christmas Dinner at O Paulo’s Restaurant on the Arrifana clifftop on Saturday.
The photographs here show some images of the evening, the meal, live music and the ticket raffle–the photographs will present themselves in full size if you click on each one twice, and are also easily downloaded if you wish to do so with our compliments.
Steve Baker is also pictured explaining that the two defibrillators bought by the communities of Vale da Telha, Arrifana, Espartal, Vales, Paisagem Oceano and Monte Clerigo in a magnificent fund-raising effort spearheaded by Amovate are now in place, one with the Bombeiros, the other here on Vale da Telha.
In fact we understand from the Bombeiros that already one resident’s life has been saved by the defibrillator we provided for their paramedics, so that is the best possible news.
Steve also explained that 75 people have now attended the basic CPR courses, earning their certificates of proficiency and 24 of these have been trained to use the defibrillators.
But further courses in both disciplines can be arranged if more people wish to take these training sessions. Anyone wishing to do so should contact Sue Kenyon by e-mail at: diversue@gmail.com to register their interest.
Thank you to everyone who made it all possible.

Shoebox Appeal For Orphaned Children

shoeboxVale Da Telha resident Leni Eves is helping provide “Christmas Presents In A Shoebox” for orphaned children in Lagos and wonders if any of the good people of Vale da Telha, Aljezur, Arrifana, Espartal, Monte Clerigo, Paisagem Oceano and Vales is willing to participate in this very worthy cause.

The idea is that the 25 orphaned or abandoned children and young people at Lar de Jovens Nossa Senhora de Carmo, where these youngsters are currently being housed, should wake up to a shoebox of presents on Christmas Day.

Leni is liaising with Lois Herrington who lives near Lagos and who will be taking the shoeboxes to the children’s home on December 23rd.

Leni says: “Our families are given so much at Christmas, so we are hoping that some of the many warm-hearted people up here would consider making a gift for one of these children?

“All you need is an empty shoebox, covered with attractive wrapping paper.  Then, depending on the age and gender of the child, fill it with small, inexpensive items as a Christmas surprise for them.

“There aren’t any restrictions on items like bubble bath or perfume etc.  Some ideas could be to include dolls, sweets, toiletries, pens, notebooks, puzzles, balls, cosmetics, scarves, gloves, balloons, marbles etc. etc.

“I also think some people might find it tricky to find a spare shoebox.  I have a couple of spare ones at my house if that would help.

“You can e-mail me at phileni2004@yahoo.com

Leni continued: “I know that Lois is taking the boxes to the children’s home on 23rd December and I should be able to deliver some boxes down to her on the morning of the 23rd if anyone would like me to take theirs.

“However, it is better that people contact Lois directly about which child to buy for, as she knows who hasn’t yet got their name down for a present.

“She has provided their names and ages below so if you would like to contribute, please let Lois know which child you are making a box for as soon as possible.”

Here is the message from Lois who should be contacted at:

herringtonlois@gmail.com

Please choose from the following:

GIRLS:

Tatiana 15

Patricia Luz 17

Patricia Silva 15

Marisa 18

Ana Filipa 16

Adriana Rafaela16

Adriana Vanessa 15

Solange 21

BOYS:

Joao Carlos 16

Joao Paulo 14

Joao Marques 13

Miguel Marques 14

Hugo 13

Tito 17

Please let me know which child you would like to pack the shoe box for. I would imagine that the Marques boys are brothers so it might be a good idea not to choose one of them as i would like them to be done by the same person.

Thank you so much. I plan to take the boxes in on 23rd. Maybe we could arrange to meet somewhere halfway between Luz and Vale de Telha for you to give me your box – Lois Herrington.

Amovate Christmas Charity Event at Hugo’s Bar Raises €700

It was an inspired brainwave for a fundraiser—the more you drank the more cash was raised to provide presents for needy children!

So, residents of Aljezur, Espartel, Arrifana,Vale da Telha and the surrounding districts raised their glasses…and collected a fantastic €700 to put a smile on the faces of deprived children and families at Christmas.

On Friday (December 5) Amovate teamed up with Hugo’s Bar with the aim of providing presents for kids who otherwise might not be getting a visit from Santa Claus this year.

And Amovate President John Bergstrom-Potter smiled: “It’s a win-win situation; you have your bevvy and the charity gets some money to put a smile on the faces of children in danger of missing out at a time for giving and well-being.”

As you will probably know, each year the BPI Bank’s branch in Aljezur is supplied with a list of children in deprived circumstances who will not be receiving any Christmas presents, and the branch arranges to collect donations to help out.

Amovate and Hugo Nanitas, owner of Hugo’s Bar, offered to arrange gifts from the cash raised at the charity event for 10 of these children, including a personalised Christmas card with each gift-wrapped present.

Hugo’s pledge to donate a portion of the price of every drink sold in a four-hour period—€1 for every caneca (pint) priced at €2.50, for example—raised €285.50 which Amovate, as promised, then doubled to produce a final total of €571.

Amovate then decided to round the cash up to €700—€200 for the children’s presents and €500 to the St Vincent de Paul society for distribution amongst the area’s poorer families.

Amovate committee member Steve Baker also set up several games of skill during the event—which was attended by Aljezur Camara PresidentJosé Amarelinho, parish priest Padre Nuno and Fernando from the BPI—for which people paid €1 and attempted to win five bottles of beer in an ice bucket.

Said John Bergstrom-Potter: “It was a really successful and enjoyable evening, made even more so by the knowledge that everyone who attended helped to put a smile on the face of a child who may otherwise have missed out this Christmas.”
***Now, why not view the photographs accompanying this story–if you click on each picture it will present itself in a larger size.