by Matt D’Arcy

You will recall the enormous success of Cath Baker’s Charity Bar Walk, which raised a majestic €2,905.63 and resulted in the presentation of 26 new wheelchairs to Portimao Hospital.

The fantastic outcome of the walk in September, basically a 4km fancy dress pub crawl by just over 50 people from Arrifana to Vale da Telha, was featured in the Portuguese national newspapers as well as the usual English-language publications.

But, thanks to the generosity of those lovely people at Algarve Renovals, who waived their €700 fee for shipping the wheelchairs from the UK, Cath was left with an extra €736.34 after the purchase of the wheelchairs, all of which were stamped “Donated by Vale da Telha Charity Bar Walkers”.

Cath declared: “Because of their fantastic generosity we now have cash left over, which will be used to buy other equipment for the oncology unit.”

Her first purchase was a camera which the unit had specifically requested, but she then sat down with the unit administrators to ascertain what else they need from the extra cash.

As a result Cath, and husband Peter, have now been back to the hospital to make the final donations from the proceeds of the Walk.

At the request of the unit staff she has now provided them with these extra, much-needed items:

1 x thermometer

3 x serum poles

20 x pill boxes

1 x microwave

6 x lap trays with folding legs.

The picture here shows Cath (second left) with Peter seated in front of her, the two of them surrounded by the unit’s grateful staff after presenting the additional items.