Lions visit Adintre in Fuengirola
Lions President, Brenda Meredith and 3 lions paid a visit to Adintre in Fuengirola and were met by Joyce Gyimah, the brains behind the organisation and facilities that cares for the homeless and families in need of support. The Lions arrived at 11am and the centre had already provided breakfast for 80 homeless and the tables were set for lunch. The building occupied by Adintre has three facilities designed to make the homeless lives more comfortable. The first facility provides showers twice a week, with a total change of clothing, as well as providing breakfast and lunch each day. The second facility is for families in need of help with food, a massive food bank piled high with provisions including meat from the cold stores, one of which was recently provided by the Lions. The third facility is Adintre’s charity shop, raising much needed funds from the hugh selection of clothing, electrical goods, ornaments and even wedding dresses. Upstairs there is a comprehensive range of furniture. The charity shop is open six days a week from 10am to 3pm. Adintre is efficiently run by Joyce at the helm supported by two social workers, volunteers and several students from Malaga University, all with the same aim, to help the homeless and families that need help to survive.
La Cala de Mijas Lions visit APAFFER
On a pleasant Thursday afternoon 8 Lions paid a visit to Apaffer in Fuengirola. Apaffer is an association of patients with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and other rheumatic diseases. Fibromyalgia is a chronic (long-lasting) disorder that causes pain and tenderness throughout the body, as well as fatigue and trouble sleeping. Scientists do not fully understand what causes it, but people with the disorder have a heightened sensitivity to pain. They are aware of the benefits of group activities and finding an activity that involves both motivations to learn, encouragement to develop creativity and the possibility of working as a team and finding support and understanding from people who are in the same situation. The association has already launched an Occupational Service since its inception 2006 which includes various activities that meet the needs and concerns of different members. Activities offered include social care, psychological attention, physiotherapy, osteopathy, tai chi, pilates, yoga and oriental medicine. There is currently no curative treatment for these diseases so the goal is, the relief of symptoms and adaptation of the patient. Progress in research has opened a door that might find an effective treatment for some of the patients with Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue in the future. Most of their helpers in their workshops are volunteers and thanks to their efforts and dedication the Apaffer members enjoy activities such as painting, crafts and sewing. Some 20 Apaffer members welcomed the lions with a table full of food and drink for all to enjoy. Lions President Brenda Meredith presented a cheque for 1000€ to Apaffer President María Mercedes González Estévez
La Cala Lions present awards at Fencing Tournament
Last weekend the first championship of the Malaga Fencing League, “Boquerón de Acero” (“Steel Anchovy”) was held at La Cala de Mijas Sports Centre. “Boquerón is the nickname for the people born in Málaga. A total of 93 fencers from 6 clubs took part in the competition. Members of the La Cala de Mijas Lions, who sponsor the Mijas Fencing Club, presented the cups to the winning fencers. The 15 fencers from the Mijas fencing Club performed very well with very good results, gaining 2 gold medals and 3 silver. Ana Belinchón won gold in master female epee and Rebeca López won silver. Joaquín Ribera won gold in the male epee and Ludmila Durán won silver in the female epee. In the master male epee, Edu Sánchez, coach of the Mijas club, won the silver medal in a very hard final match. This championship also had a competition for paralympic fencers who use wheelchairs and competed in the same competition as everyone else. In this group, the Spanish international paralympic fencer Antonio Garrido, from the Torremolinos Fencing club, won bronze medal in this competition.
Miraflores Golf Club present a cheque to La Cala de Mijas Lions
La Cala de Mijas Lions were asked by the golf captains of Miraflores Golf Club to attend a presentation of a cheque for 4000 €. The money had been raised by the Golf Club at various events. Club captains for 2022-2023, Jan Goodman and Paul Barrett presented the cheque to Brenda Meredith, the current President of the La Cala de Mijas Lions and six members of the Lions. The money will be wisely spent by the Lions in the help they give to deserving causes throughout the locality. The Golf Clubs captains for 2023-2024, Jo and Marco, have pledged their continued support in helping the Lions. For further information about the Lions, visit their website at www.lacallions.org or the Charity Shops in Calle Torremolinos, La Cala de Mijas or telephone 637 185 533
Equine Therapy Centre – Presentation of a cheque for the purchase of a horse
La Cala de Mijas Lions present a cheque for the purchase of a horse for the
Equine Therapy Centre at Costa del Sol Hippodromo
Last year, Wynson Beswick, the then president of La Cala Lions club asked Flavio and Virginia, who run the centre if there was anything our club could help them with. Flavio explained that their load bearing horse had died and they were looking to replace him but during Covid they were not able to look for a replacement. Earlier this year they found a beautiful mare, just what they were looking for and they are very proud of her, she is a 20-year-old mare and already a firm favourite of the pupils who attend the centre and is a very strong, but gentle horse. She has been named Romera, (Rosemary in English), romera is also the name of a healing herb, and there is a Romera Horse Festival in Cadiz.
On a bright Tuesday morning, the 10th of October, the cheque for the purchase of the horse was presented by this year´s president, Brenda Meredith, together with last year´s president Wynson Beswick and members of the La Cala Lions Club and friends. The councillor for Sports, Tamara Vera and the Sport Co-ordinator Jose Manuel from La Cala Town Hall were also present with their photographer.
A young mum, Jodie takes her little boy Charlie (3) to the centre every week for his therapy on one of the smaller ponies, Romera is a bit too big for Charlie, but his face lit up when Flavio lifted him onto the horse´s back and led him round the paddock. We hope the centre can carry on helping the pupils ride enabling them to gain composure and confidence with the horses. For further information about the Lions and future events go to their website at www.lacalalions.org or visit their charity shops in Calle Torremolinos, La Cala de Mijas or Tel: 637 185 533.
La Cala Lions sponsor the giants of sport
Volleyball was invented in 1895 by William G. Morgan, physical director of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) in Holyoke, Massachusetts. It was designed as an indoor sport for businessmen who found the new game of basketball too vigorous. Nowadays it is a very popular sport especially here in La Cala de Mijas where it is often seen being played on our beaches. We are lucky enough to have our very own champions. Clubdeportivo Mijas Voley or Club Voleibol who are deserving champions having come first in Malaga and Andalucia competitions as well as recently coming 6th out of 32 teams in Asturias Camponata de España – their first time to compete with older players from big teams from all over Spain including Barcelona and Madrid.- formerly they were in the juvenile section. A lot of their success is due to their coach Isoil Perez who was a world champion player from Cuba. He is just as tall as you would expect a volley ball player to be! The La Cala Lions were happy to donate 2000 euros recently to the club to help them to expand and Wynson Beswick the Lions President received warm thanks from the team at the recent presentation and she was delighted to be handed a plaque in appreciation for the Lions from the team.
Royal British Legion could help you!
The La Cala de Mijas Lions were delighted to present the Royal British Legion with a cheque for 1000 euros recently. This British charity was founded in 1921 and helps many men and women who have actively served in the United Kingdom Armed Forces, as well as helping their families too. The Royal British Legion has branches both in the United Kingdom and in various parts of the world, raising money for their beneficiaries. All the money raised in Spain is used to help those who live here now. Every year in November we see the members busy offering poppies and holding remembrance services to honour those who died in service. They explained they try to help those in need who require assistance through lack of mobility, essential help to buy staple food etc, support in times if grief , help with domestic items, counselling for mental health and much more. If you feel they could help you they are very nice, approachable people and would be glad to try to do all they can for you and your family.
Mijas Felina
La Cala Lions present 1400 euros to Mijas Felina
La Cala Lions are proud to provide financial support to this important local Charity. Mijas Felina works tirelessly sterilizing stray cats in the Mijas area. Over 100 members take the cats into their own homes, to care for them, these cats are not kept in catteries and receive tender loving care whilst they are in the members’ homes. Sometimes kittens are found alongside the mothers and these kittens are also taken into the members’ homes until they are old enough to be adopted.
Donkey Dreamland
LA CALA LIONS RAISE 1500 EUROS FOR DONKEY DEAMLAND.
DONKEY DREAMLAND WAS EXACTLY THAT – A REALLY LOVELY EXPERIENCE. LIONS CHAIRPERSON WYNSON AND 12 LIONS VISITED DONKEY DREAMLAND TO PRESENT 1500 EUROS. THIS FEEDS THE DONKEYS FOR 3 MONTHS!
THIS WAS SO EXCITING THAT THE CENTRE INVITED US ALL FOR AN ANDALUCIAN BREAKFAST. BEFOREHAND THE DONKEY DREAMLAND FOUNDER, AMAYA ISERT, TREATED THE LIONS TO A VERY INFORMATIVE TALK ABOUT THE CENTRE AND THE DONKEYS.
DONKEY DREAMLAND IS ONLY 5 MINUTES FROM LA CALA. SURROUNDED BY BEAUTIFUL COUNTRYSIDE, WE HEARD HOW DONKEYS HAD BEEN BEASTS OF BURDEN FOR OVER 5000 YEARS. ORIGINALLY FROM THE DESERT, THEY HAD ADAPTED TO LIFE IN SPAIN. AT ONE TIME THERE WERE OVER ONE MILLION DONKEYS IN SPAIN.
TODAY THERE ARE 33,000 DONKEYS REMAINING. SADLY, SOME DONKEYS ARE BADLY MISTREATED AND DONKEY DREAMLAND IS ONE OF SEVERAL CENTRES WHICH CARE FOR MISTREATED DONKEYS. SOME ARRIVE WITH HOOVES BADLY DEFORMED AND THE DONKEYS RESORT TO WALKING ON THEIR HEELS. SOMETIMES THEIR COAT IS SO BADLY MATTED, IT CAUSES THEM GREAT DISCOMFORT. MANY DONKEYS HAVE BEEN KEPT BY OWNERS PURELY FOR BREEDING PURPOSES UNTIL THEY DIE.
TODAY DONKEYS ARE OFTEN KEPT AS TOURIST ATTRACTIONS, BUT THESE ANIMALS ARE OFTEN TETHERED AND THIS CAN CAUSE SUCH DISTRESS AS THEY CANNOT EVEN BRUSH OFF A FLY BY MOVING THEIR HEAD. THESE DONKEYS ARE OFTEN WASHED EVERY DAY SO THEY ARE CLEAN FOR THE TOURISTS. THIS IS ALSO CRUEL TO DONKEYS AS THEY ARE USED TO DESERT LIFE AND MAY GET DERMATITIS WITH A WET COAT. AT DONKEY DREAMLAND THEY GET ONE SHOWER BEFORE SUMMER.
AT DONKEY DREAMLAND WE WERE INTRODUCED TO SEVERAL OF THE DONKEYS. SOME AS LARGE AS HORSES AND SOME LIKE SMALL PONIES. THERE WAS ALSO A FOAL.
IT WAS SIMPLY A WONDERFUL DAY. DONKEY DREAMLAND DOES AN AMAZING JOB GIVING THE DONKEYS A NEW LEASE OF LIFE WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN VISIT THEM.
PLEASE VISIT WWW.DONKEYDREAMLAND.COM FOR FULL DETAILS. A VISIT IS A MUST!