Red Cross Benefits: Great News!

At the beginning of May there were two great fund raising events in aid of the Rethymnon branch of the Hellenic Red Cross. The money raised will contribute towards purchasing the desperately needed 4x4 jeep for the Samaritas (search and rescue team and first aiders) and is also going to benefit disadvantaged people in the local community

Thanks to Bob Wright for providing us with the following update:

‘The Rethymnon Youth Orchestra concert raised 810 euros. The coffee morning raised 1060 euros which was split, half going towards the 4x4 and half to the local Red Cross to help the needy of Rethymnon. So far, we have raised 3690 euros for the 4x4, with 26 charity boxes in the hotels awaiting tourist generosity. In August we will start the big raffle, culminating in an "Economy" dinner in October when the raffle will be drawn. We could even reach our target of 15,000 euros this year. The grand total of monies raised for the Hellenic Red Cross so far from all events since April 2005 is 9,984 euros. Amazing!’ Bob and Ev Wright Villa Estia, P.O. Box 7791,Rethymno 74100,Crete, Greece. Tel. 0030 28310 71221. Mobile 0030 6947186679.

‘Friends of Animals’ Fund Raising Events in June

On Friday 4th June from 8pm the White Lady Taverna in Platanes will be hosting a ‘Bollywood’ themed night in aid of local animal welfare charity Friends of Animals Rethymno (FAR). You will be welcomed to an evening of traditional Indian food, music and dancing, love for animals and many surprises. Price per person, €13 adults, €10 children. For reservations email booking@whitelady.gr or phone Clodagh on 6945 170 226, Antonia on 6985 084 555. A car boot sale to support FAR will take place on Sunday June 27th from10am-3pm on Georgioupolis Football Pitch (Near the Harbour, next to Edem Park). Car pitches 10 Euros Per Car. For more information and to book a spot call Kate on 6942 817 043 or Issie on 6945 169 327. Please support these very worthwhile events! Reg. Charity no.195/1006/ME/183/2000. All welcome..a great day out.

There is a Solution

The Bugle team is grateful for the following contribution submitted by one of our readers who writes:

‘Seventy five years ago this month two men: one a doctor, the other a Wall Street businessman, met and talked into the night. They talked of their common problem. Alcohol. Both men were desperate, both were knocking at death’s door. What they discovered that night was that if two alcoholics got together, shared their experiences and then tried to help other alcoholics, their desire to drink evaporated. They became the first two recovering alcoholics in what was to become Alcoholics Anonymous. Alcoholism is as misunderstood today as it was when those two men first met in 1935. There is no set pattern to alcoholic drinking; some people drink regularly, others only at the weekend; some are ‘bout’ drinkers who go for long periods without alcohol while many consume every day; some never drink at home, or alone, or in the morning. Still more do. The common factor is what alcohol, once taken, does to them. Problem drinkers, their families and friends are still often forced to suffer in silence, shame and despair. Before that June day in 1935 the only future for the vast majority was either death – if they were lucky – or years locked in an institution suffering from a ‘wet brain’. Today there is a solution and it is to be found in the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. Alcoholism is an illness and needs to be treated. But it isn’t necessary to travel all the way to the bottom before we realise we are on the wrong road. Recovery can begin at any time.

A.A. meetings take place in Rethymnon twice a week in the annex of Mikri Panagia church Palia Poli, [old town] Arambatzaglos Street. Meetings commence at 3pm on Mondays and Thursdays. These are open to people who have a desire to stop drinking, but the last week of each month both are open to anyone who would like to learn more about alcoholism. For the whole of June there will be someone at the annex from 2pm, prior to the meetings, available to anyone who might wish to talk in complete confidence about any aspect of alcoholism. We would be pleased to speak to you.’