The 4th Obrigado, Bombeiros! Auction held on 21st September was again a successful event and raised €5,200 for the Bombeiros of Lagoa and Silves, despite the adverse weather conditions on the day.
Those who attended the live auction at Carvoeiro Tennis Club were generous in their response to the incredible array of goods and services donated by local businesses. These included artwork, fine wines and dining, boat trips, rounds of golf and stays at 5 star resorts in the Algarve, Lisbon, Edinburgh and Barcelona. Also, a show jacket donated by Sir Cliff Richard, which he wore in 1975 at the Albert Hall in London will be auctioned online in the next few weeks.

Last week, on October 3^rd, the CDS (Social Democratic Centre) Party visited the Animal Rescue Algarve’s (ARA) shelter at Cabanita, Loulè. Representing the party were MP and party headliner for the Algarve, João Rebelo, President of CDS’s Advisory to Loulé, Isilda Guerreiro, and Member of CDS’s Advisory to Loulé, Luís Afonso.
In a statement, CDS said that ARA was ‘an association totally unlike the kennels usually known by the party, where the dogs and cats sheltered have great standards of living’, highlighting the ‘designated recreational and housing areas, the daily walks with volunteers, the health treatments and training’. The party claimed that ARA was ‘an association totally unlike the kennels usually known.’

You may remember the story of Donald, a pure breed Rafeiro Alentejo puppy who was found roaming the country roads around the Aerodromo in Arão earlier this year. His story was a sad one but has a happy ending!
He was adopted by a German family who have a house with land in the are of Barragem da Bravura - just look how he's doing now...

Partners, owners, and buyers enjoyed the 5th corporate golf day from Casas do Barlavento. The event took placeas usual at Boavista Golf Resort & Spa. The charity aspect remained, with the Charity hole this year being dedicated to Lagos Firefighters, and raised an incredible 1000€, which was subsequently doubled by Luís Ledo, the Casas do Barlavento managing director!

When Loulè GNR officer Frederico (Freddie) Fragoso approached Peter Hinze, the chair of Community Services at Almancil International Rotary Club (AIRC), for help in purchasing new kit for the Louletano Junior Futsal team, the club was delighted to help.  “This fitted in perfectly with our ethos which is to help our local community in any way that will benefit young, elderly or disadvantaged people” said AIRC President Mark Hulit. “Sport is an excellent way of encouraging young people to learn discipline, and team work whist at the same time having fun and getting exercise”.

A massive thank you to all that came to the End of Summer Party hosted by Eve Clifton at Herdade da Corte near Tavira on Friday night. Over 100 people got treated to a fantastic buffet catered by Jane Kemp, serenaded by Inger Hansen and brought to their feet to dance along with the Sun Lovers Algarve Band.

Last week, MP João Vasconcelos visited the Animal Rescue Algarve (ARA) shelter in a bid to get better acquainted with the realities of animal welfare in the Algarve.

The parliamentarian was accompanied by regional members of his party, Bloco de Esquerda (Left Bloc [BE]), namely Carlos Martins, Member of Loulé's Municipal Assembly, Nuno Viana, BE's District Coordination Commissioner, and BE's Regional Coordination Commissioners Joaquim Sarmento, Tiago Grosso and Rogério Ferreira.

The result of many months of work as well as the kindness and generosity of donors across the Algarve, has meant that ACCA, in its joint campaign with  Castelo dos Sonhos, has topped its previous best  by providing back-to-school essentials for more than 700 needy youngsters who, without the charity’s help, would not be able to take part in classes. Back packs loaded with exercise books, pencils and pens, rubbers and rulers, compasses and calculators have now been distributed and will make a big difference to the lives of the recipients.