Every Thursday and Friday morning from September to May children and young adults with physical and mental disabilities enjoy riding therapy through the Associação de Equitação para Deficientes no Algarve (Riding for the Disabled in the Algarve). However, volunteers are needed to provide help and support for many of them while riding.

The benefits of the therapy sessions include improved concentration and coordination, posture and, importantly, self esteem. The movement of the horse is particularly valuable as the rider, to keep balance, has to use the almost identical muscles and joint movements used in walking. The horse produces 1000 movements in three dimensions in 10 minutes - this is far greater than any therapist could produce in the same time!

On a beautiful sunny September morning, I nervously stood on a small, wooden platform, just below the castle at Sanlúcar de Guadiana, Spain, with seven other APAA supporters. We were waiting for our turn to cross the Guadiana River on a 720 metre long cable. Alcoutim in Portugal – our landing stage – seemed a long way off and the river was a long way down!

First to go was Fido, aka Jenny, President of APAA. Harness checked, tailed tucked in, she was off.

Hello everyone, a huge thank you for Friday — What an experience! What a great Day! What an achievement!
Our best estimates at the moment is a grand total of €3670.00, of which €1800 is what the eight APAA Zippers raised and the remaining €1870 was from our afpop EA Zippers for StreetLife.

BUT some of the sponsorship money is being paid in sterling and some in Euros . . . so the exact figure will not be known until all money has been received and we can see what exchange rate we get.

Centro Infantil da Vila da Luz has greatly improved its crèche playground. Local artificial grass company Mãos Verdes has donated 450 m2 of playground grass to the school.

Natural grass would not grow in the playground and over the years the area became basically a dusty, dirty area that the children couldn’t use in safety.

You may remember that earlier in the year, the number of dogs and puppies at the Sanctuary was down to around 109, and Jan´s ambition was to get that total down to the ton or less. The current population is 127, and the place is FULL...CLICK HERE to read more.

Those who follow events in the UK, as I do avidly, will have heard a lot about the MMT recently. It seems from recent conversations that there are those who believe that we at Goldra have access to this cornucopia, and that we are rolling in cash. Most readers of this newsletter will be aware that this is certainly not the case .....CLICK HERE to read more.

The Algarveans Experimental Theatre were in touch with Castelo dos Sonhos (Silves) as they wanted to help the charity by buying items that were needed by the less fortunate in the community.

In late June this year, €533 was spent on items for babies such as dried milk, bottle, dummies, baby wipes, creams, nappies and many other associated items.

The rotary clubs of Estoi Palace International and Olhao together with the Alliance Française held their third very successful White Night Dinner on the 3rd of June at historic Faro Catering College which was formerly a 17th century convent.
230 guests came along, all dressed in white, to enjoy the evening bringing their own food and table decorations. Entertainment was provided by the ukulele band Rattle ´n´ Hum, Clube de Danças João de Feus who performed various oriental dances and Cristina Afonso, a contestant on The Voice. Cristina sang a selection of Portuguese and international songs whilst playing her piano and encouraging the audience to get up and dance.