Wow, what a fabulous night. 138 guests attended our afpop EA Summer Ball / Party Night on Friday 26th July to raise funds for StreetLife. I can safely say a very good time was had by one and all.

Our brilliant entertainers who donated their time, Stuart McColl and Althea had everyone dancing almost from the beginning of the evening while guests were on their starters! By the end of the evening the dance area was full of happy dancing guests, nonstop until 11.30 when the evening had to come to an end.

West coast community association Amovate hosted a “Haven For Heroes” in Vale da Telha, Aljezur last weekend, as 200 bombeiros tackled the worst fires seen in the area for decades.

The association of expats and local Portuguese stepped in to provide an area of respite and refreshment as the fire fighters of Aljezur and surrounding areas battled the huge wild fires that, for a time, appeared to threaten lives and homes in Vale da Telha, Vales, Espartal and other adjoining areas.

Associação Obrigado Bombeiros held their first golf tournament on Saturday 6 July raising €2,320 towards the Bombeiros de Silves Fire Truck Appeal.

The charity golf event took place at Gramacho Pestana Golf Resort and welcomed 42 players for an 18 hole, pairs stapleford competition, followed by lunch. 100% of the golf fees and 20% of the lunch price was donated, together with proceeds from the raffle and course competitions. A total of €2,320 was raised and has been transferred to the Bombeiros de Silves Fire Truck Appeal.

Following the recent Algarve Senior Bikers group charity BBQ at the Pirilampos children's home, which raised over 1000 euros, ASB members Peter and Jane Allen decided to ask friends and relatives for donations, to help purchase some of the much needed items for the kids.

The finale of a six session project supported by Almancil International Rotary came to fruition last Thursday when 8 youngsters from the Akredita em Ti association showed off their newly acquired skills to friends and supporters at Pinetrees Riding, Almancil.

Staff from APPC Faro visited the Rotary Club of Estoi Palace International (RCEPI) to talk about the work their non profit-making Association does supporting children with cerebral palsy and related neurological diseases and their families.  Impressed by the work done on a limited budget the Club decided to raise funds for the purchase of a special posture wheelchair. This helps to maintain a child’s back in the correct position to help their posture. 

It is now nine years since I had the idea of forming the Algarve Senior Bikers group. This year to celebrate the anniversary on June 10th I was able to organise a charity BBQ with the help of Claudia Loios, the Director of Gaivota home for teenagers in Albufeira.

The west Algarve Section of the Royal British Legion Portugal raised €772 for the Poppy Appeal during a BBQ event on June 6^th to commemorate the 75^th anniversary of D-Day.

The theme of the evening, held at the Barroca Bar & Restaurant in Praia da Luz, was “A Time To Say Thank You” to a generation who helped shape our world as we know it today.