You have probably read in the local press of the financial crisis that has now hit Cudeca. The current economic situation that we are all experiencing resulted in Cudeca closing their 2012 books with losses in excess of e400,000.
This was due to a number of reasons…..a) the Spanish saving banks reducing their amount of sponsorship b) Cudeca have been unable to sell any of the properties that have been left to them despite lowering price values. c) The 12 Cudeca charity shops have seen a huge reduction in the number of donated items. Cudeca’s Board of Trustees together with the Board of Directors are constantly evaluating the difficult situation, measures are being explored to increase revenue and reduce costs. One of the first steps which are already underway is to reduce employee salaries. There will be an extraordinary board meeting during May 2013 to decide the way forward.
I was therefore delighted when I was approached by Debbie Warner with a new fundraising venture for Competa and surrounding area; Cudeca Pop-Up Diners, and willingly agreed to assist her. The first event was on Friday 22nd February where our first hosts were Inez and Enmanuel from the Rural Alberdini Hotel, Competa, when over 50 diners came along and experienced Three Curries of the World. The menu included some unusual dishes; Thai Son-in-Law Eggs and Thai Pork Jungle Curry to name but two. The dessert was profiteroles with hot chocolate fudge sauce, see photograph of Andy from E.G.O. hair and beauty who surely must win the prize for consuming the most Profiteroles!! All photographs courtesy of Martin Robinson. The evening concluded with a Tombola stall and Geoff Murrell kindly donated his musical time to Cudeca to enable everyone to dance the night away. As always, I had a wonderful team of volunteers who make events like this possible. The evening raised e700, a fantastic achievement for our first event. The next Pop-Up Diner will be on Friday, 31st May at Cortijco Paco. For further details and menu, please see www.thecudecapop-updinersclub.blogspot.com.es
Our next Competa Cudeca fund raising event is DAY FOR LIFE on Sunday, 28th April. The day will start will our annual WALK FOR LIFE, a 5km sponsored walk around the village of Competa This will be our 8th annual walk and has to date raised over e24,000. The Alberdini will then host the remainder of the day from 11am, with lots of entertainment for adults and children. There will be a separate dedicated children’s activity area. So please come along and join us, have fun at what promises to be a fantastic day, enjoy some Paella and support a great cause. Cudeca is a charitable organisation that provides palliative care to advanced cancer sufferers within the province of Malaga.
Finally, a reminder that our CompetaCudeca Cancer Care Support Group continues to meet in Competa on the third Thursday of each month, so if you or your family are cancer sufferers, please come along and join our informal group. This help and support is available to you irrespective of where you are being treated.
For further information, please contact me, Cindy Jones on 665156467 or email cindyjones19@hotmail.com.
Due to the success of the Competa group, Cudeca are also supporting a group in Nerja on the second Thursday of each month, for details please contact susanhannam@cudeca.org
Thank you
Cindy Jones, Cudeca Volunteer
