Riding for the Disabled in the Algarve (RDA) would like to thank Ron Martin and Dee Russell for all their effort and organisation in raising more than 1,400 euros, which will help the association continue its valuable riding therapy for all the Portuguese disabled children and adults who attend sessions at Pinetrees Riding Centre.
For six months, Ron and Dee, who are both members of RDA, collected and stored donated items until Boot Sale Day at Almancil on October 9, where one van and two jeeps, fully loaded, set up stall with Ron and Dee in charge and Sheila and Sylvia as willing helpers. Tables were set up as the heavens opened, and the first rain for 10 months came with a vengeance! By 8am, thoroughly soaked in body and spirit, the decision was made to pack up and go home. As we all know the rain was very welcome but just not that morning!
The boot sale team decided to re-schedule for October 19 and, once again, met up to set up the stall with all the items for sale. Customers were flocking to the stall and some strong bargaining took place in Portuguese, English, German and Ukrainian, with lots of fun and laughter. Then, the rain started, but the customers still came until there were just the four stalwart team members left surrounded by puddles, mud, torrential rain and tables still laden with articles for sale! Once again, it was decided to pack up, go home and dry out. At least one jeep went home empty and the remaining items have been stored by Bill, our very co-operative RDA helper, so that another boot sale can take place in the spring.
Also we would like to thank everybody who donated items and especially to Mr and Mrs Michael Connolly, who very generously gave furniture, pictures and rugs, which were sold at auction and to individual buyers. Our thanks also to Digisat, which kindly collected and stored the larger items at their Almancil office. We must also say how much we appreciated Sheila giving up her two Sunday mornings to help on the stall.
RDA is a charity that relies on donations/memberships. For anyone interested in helping at the sessions or fundraising, please contact Rosemary Owen on 964 027 677 or myself on 289 413 854.
Sylvia Panford, Almancil
