I am writing to you concerning the article you printed in your last issue about the misprint for the lunch held on June 25 at the beach for The Hope Fund [Editor’s note: the lunch was in aid of The Hope Fund, and not the Lagos Animal Protection Society (LAPS) as was printed in an article in The Resident’s edition of June 24, entitled ‘Pink Callillacs rock for the animals’]. Please print this letter as I would like my side of the story heard too.
As I told Bridget Hicks of LAPS on Monday morning, when she phoned me expressing her concern over the misprint, I was not aware of the advertisement for the lunch included in a piece on The Pink Cadillacs until the actual day of the lunch. It was brought to my attention at about 1pm, on Saturday June 25, during the event.
Bridget stated that it would have been nice if I had told her about the mistake on the day of publication. I quite agree, it would have been, but, on that day, I was in Portimão hospital undergoing tests to discover what was causing the excruciating pain I was experiencing. I did not leave hospital until late on Thursday night and spent the following day in bed.
I went to the lunch on Saturday with great effort, purely to show my face because everyone had made such an effort to attend and I felt I should go to support it. I sat in a chair for most of the lunch, while others did the running around and, once home, went back to bed where I stayed almost totally until Monday.
It was discovered that Colin Burgess of The Pink Cadillacs had inadvertently told you that the day was in aid of LAPS and it was not through any bad intention that this happened. He fully admitted the mistake, which I appreciate, and I also asked him to call Bridget and explain what had happened, which he did. I personally apologised to Bridget for the mistake and it was never my intention to mislead anyone, either by choice or by mistake, in this way.
As I pointed out to Bridget on Monday morning and she later stated in the article, at the end of the day, the event was held for the animals and that is the important thing. Both Bridget and myself, along with several other good hearted people in this country, either via an association or through individuals, are fighting for the rights of the animals to a better life without suffering.
Fundraising events, charity shops and donations all make a difference. Whatever happens, we have to remember that the animals’ needs come first. That is why we all give so much of our time, energy and hearts to them, because they need us. I don’t think it matters who raises what at the end of the day, as long as it goes to the cause.
Again, I apologise to Bridget for any misunderstanding and to anyone who was misled by the advertisement.
Michele Jones, The Hope Fund
