Sara’s Hope Foundation: Open Day 4th March

In October 2011 we reported on the work of Sara’s Hope Foundation - a charitable organisation that has been set up to provide a holiday retreat here on Crete for young people diagnosed with cancer along with their families. We thank Ged and Julie Hoburn (founders of the charity) and Kath Walls for letting us know about the Open Day that will take place at the beginning of March. Please help to support this worthwhile cause. Ged and Julie write:

You are invited to Sara`s Hope Foundation Open Day in Kambia Sunday 4 March - anytime from 11 am - 6 pm with complimentary refreshments and snacks. Please come and have a look around Sara`s Retreat. The support and warmth that Sara`s charity has received on the island has been extremely touching and with your help and generosity we were proud to welcome 9 very special families who really needed a break in 2011. All the children or teenagers have been diagnosed with cancer. The Foundation funds all flights, travel costs etc. and Julie and I are here 24/7 to provide practical and emotional care. We welcome the whole family and from our own experience we understand that having a child with cancer affects everyone - parents, brothers and sisters ....

We have received such a lot of support from individuals and local businesses - please take a look online at the Crete supporters page at the www.sarashopefoundation.co.uk website.

This year we have extended the UK catchment area and will be welcoming families from the North West. If all goes to plan we hope to welcome 20 families to the island in 2012. We could not have achieved so much in such a short time without your help and the Open Day is our way to say ‘Thank you’ and to show you what the Sara’s Hope Foundation is all about. So please come along!

Contact details:
Tel: 2825031818 / 6942670983 Email Ged@sarashopefoundation.co.uk Sara`s Retreat is on the hillside in Kambia Apokoronas (just up from Plaka). Follow the road up from Plaka (past Totem). At the top turn right at the T Junction as soon as you turn the corner there is a sharp left - turn here and go right to the top of the hill: just before you reach the end of the road you will find Sara`s Retreat on the left (with sign outside). With warmest wishes, Ged and Julie Hoburn.

Animal Welfare Groups in Rethymnon: Some Changes

2012 brings with it some changes in the way that some of our local animal welfare groups are structured and organised. Here, Rita Leatherbarrow, formerly of FAR, tells us more. Rita writes: The elections for the Friends of Animals Committee took place on 21st December 2011. As of 1st January 2012 the new President is Angie Koumna. The FAR website and Association telephone number will remain the same. We, the outgoing committee, wish them every success with their work and on-going commitment to animal welfare. The previous committee members are now setting up an Animal Welfare Volunteer Group, and will carry on the work with the neutering of stray dogs and cats. For many years we have believed that this is the only long term solution to the problem of the strays, and that this will eventually reduce the numbers on our streets. In order to continue our work with the neutering and feeding, we still need your support to feed the cats and dogs at our feeding stations. We also still have in our care 10 dogs and 15 cats which we hope with your help to rehome this year. If anyone is interested in adopting a dog or a cat from us, you can follow the link and view our photo album on the www.rethymnon.biz website. With the closure of the FAR English Facebook page, (at the request of the new all Greek committee), The 'Animal Welfare Volunteer Group', will try to keep all our previous English speaking supporters up to date with news on both the photo album and of course in "The Bugle'. Watch this space for a new Facebook group and website!

If you would like to help us, please remember that we still have our Charity Shop in Pigi Village which is open Monday - Saturday 11 - 2pm, and we desperately need donations of clothes, books, electrical items, furniture, etc. For people who do not have transport, we can also collect donations from you. Please contact Rita at 6979148652 or Clodagh 6945170226. We thank you for your continued support.

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