On Friday, December 8, I had the pleasure of hosting the Algarve Senior Bikers Christmas charity lunch. This is an annual event for members and friends of the ASB, which raises funds for the A Gaivota home for children and teenagers in Albufeira.
At the end of the afternoon, I was pleased to present Dra Raquel Nunes, the director of Gaivota, with €1,415, including some donations from people unable to attend the lunch.
This year, in addition to the money raised at the lunch, there was another €1,200 donation from a BBQ with the kids at the home in June and funding provided by the ASB for birthday presents and Easter eggs for each of the kids.
I must also congratulate fellow ASB members Martin Holloway and Ken Blunt for their individual fundraising efforts.
Martin runs quiz nights at the Cocktail Garden in Monte Carvoeiro and raised €3,290 thanks to the generosity of the participants. Ken, who is an accomplished musician on various instruments, organised a lunch and music afternoon at the Indian restaurant and raised the sum of €1,825.
All much appreciated and greatly helps to improve the quality of life for all those at the A Gaivota home.
Many thanks to all at Restaurant O Barril in Albufeira for their kind hospitality and serving us with an excellent lunch as usual, which was followed by my wife Dee’s homemade Christmas cakes.
Thanks to all who supported me with this event and over the past years since I started the ASB in 2010.
Recently, the ASB has grown considerably and now has an off-road Gravel group run by Andrew Chilton.
Longer tours of between three and 10 days in Portugal and Spain have been arranged by myself and Walter Kollert, respectively. The monthly rides continue to be popular and usually finish at a restaurant for a social lunch.
I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a Healthy and Peaceful New Year. Ride safely!
By DAVID SHIRLEY
