The small Algarve West Coast community of Vale da Telha has smashed its fund-raising target for the Madrugada Serious Illness Charity. The residents rallied around when Jeanette Cumberworth launched an appeal to raise €800 for a ripple bed to ease the suffering of long-term bedridden patients following the death of her husband Tony earlier this year.
But a final count after a series of fund-raising events revealed that the mostly ex-pat coastal community near Aljezur had more than trebled the target amount, with a total figure of €2,596.
Amovate, the local Residents’ Association—which last year donated nine wheelchairs to Portimão Hospital—raised the biggest single total of £700 following the Vale da Telha Music Festival on August 20, adding to the €1,896 contributed through a series of events.
The fund-raising drive, which included raffles, bucket collections and a Music Quiz culminated last Saturday with a Summer Fair at the Pastelaria do Parque.
During the Fair Amovate President Peter Johnson handed over their cheque to Madrugada’s Alison Blair who said when she was told the final amount of €2,596:
‘I am overwhelmed and so moved. I wasn’t even aware this community was here, just half an hour drive from our advice centre and shop in Praia da Luz, until Jeanette first contacted us.
‘This comparatively small number of residents has shown the warm heart of its community by managing to raise such a large sum. This will enable us not only to buy the ripple bed which we need so badly, but also to prioritise other important projects.”
Later, Jeanette said: ‘I am overcome by the overwhelming response from such a small community as ours to the appeal. So many people got involved and played their part and the fact that they raised more than three times the amount for which we aimed has left me feeling very emotional--it really is an unbelievable response and one beyond all expectations. The ripple bed itself costs around €700 and the surplus will now be used for other essential items needed at Madrugada. For the large part doing this fundraising was very hard emotionally. But it was also very easy, as a project I had to do to make a closure in my life.’
Photograph shows from left: Amovate President Peter Johnson, Jeanette Cumberworth, Alison Blair from Madrugada, and Kim Wassell from Pastalaria do Parque.