The tournament was such a success that it will be an annual event
Ombria Golf Course in Loulé hosted the ‘ACCA Charity Ombria Algarve Golf Tournament’ last week, raising €10,000 for a new child foster care programme run by the António Aleixo Foundation.
“We had such a magical day at Ombria Golf Course,” said ACCA President Wanda Crawford.
“It was an excellent opportunity for so many who have never played the course to have the pleasure of doing so while supporting such a worthy cause. Players came from Vale do Lobo, Laranjal, Pinheiros Altos and Vila Sol, to name a few,” Wanda said, adding that the tournament was such a success that it will be an annual event.
The tournament started with a 9am shotgun start with stableford format, followed by a “lovely meal”, prize-giving and an auction. The winner of the tournament was Simon Ferguson.
Over €10,000 were raised, with a portion of the proceeds going to the new foster programme.
“Portugal still has many orphanages. This new foster programme will help children go to a normal family environment for a period of six months, which can be extended. Hopefully, the situation in their homes can be rectified so that the children can ideally return home,” Wanda explained.
The reason foster care is “so important” in Portugal is because 6,347 children are currently living in institutions, she said. “Only 3.6% of those under (the age of) six will find a family to adopt them.”
“Here in the Algarve, there are 308 children in the foster care programme: of these, only one child was taken in by a family. Furthermore, 45 of them are under six years old,” Wanda said, explaining that the first three years of a child’s life are “essential for biopsychosocial development. Every day spent in foster care is a day of development which lasts forever,” she said.
The ACCA president says it always does her heart good to see the community come together to “support the needs of children. If we make this fundamental difference in the lives of young children, we will have served humanity in a profound way.”
More information about the António Aleixo Foundation and the work it does can be found on its website.
Photos: BH FOTOGRAFIA
