Menorca's Charities & Fundraisers Gather Pace

Facelft for Age Concern Shop: The official reopening of the popular Age Concern Menorca shop in Es Castell took place on Saturday 31 March 2012. Es Castell's Mayor Luís Camps and Honorary British Consul Deborah Hellyer MBE jointly performed the honour of cutting the ribbon in the presence of Age Concern President Roger Goddard and invited guests, who all toasted the new shop with a glass of cava and nibbles in the bright sunshine.

The premises has undergone a complete interior refurbishment and the weeks of hard work put in by the team have certainly paid off, resulting in a light and airy shop with new shelving and racking on which items can be attractively displayed.

The shop at Calle Cala Padera 39, is currently open from 09.30 to 13.00 hours on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays but it is hoped that this will be extended to Thursdays and Fridays in the height of the summer season.

‘March in March’ Charity Walk: Despite having to change his companion at the last moment due to prohibitively high airfares out of Birmingham, Rudi Keegan’s 185km walk around Menorca along the Camí de Cavalls to raise money for local charities, set off as planned on Saturday 24 March 2012 from Cala’n Porter. Accompanied by 20 year old Callum McCawley throughout, they were joined by Lee Hosking, Paul Walker, Anna Scott and Rudi’s two dogs for the first leg to Cala Galdana. Here they stopped for refreshments brought to them to save them having to carry the load and an overnight stay camping in the woods overlooking the beach.

However, a second set back occurred when Rudi stumbled and badly twisted his knee. Although determined to continue, he was suffering a lot and had to be driven to Ciutadella for a day’s rest to reduce the swelling while the others continued the walk to Ciutadella without him. The next day, fortified by painkillers and the knee firmly strapped up, the two men walked to Algaiarens where they were met with more food before bedding down for the night but without the tents which they had discarded due to the weight. However, it was so cold they set off again very early the next morning to try and get warm.

Tuesday’s walk took them to Cala Tirant across difficult terrain. Food was again brought to them and they slept in a small cave to be warmer than the previous night. Es Grau was the target for the next day, stopping for a short rest at Addaia. They spent the night in a field behind the football pitch where more food was dropped off for them. Then it was on to Alcaufar and Punta Prima on Thursday where they slept in a cave by the edge of the sea, illuminated by the lighthouse. Friday morning saw them set off on the final home leg to Cala’n Porter and walk up to Bar Pons which is where they had started singing ‘Close to you’!

The next morning, Rudi was driven to Cala Galdana from where he walked the eight-hour second section that he missed to Ciutadella to finish his complete walk around Menorca. On Saturday night, 31 March, Bar Pons held a fund raising evening to add to the money raised through sponsorship, as yet the total amount is not known, but it will be divided between Cats in Need, the Protectora de Animales, Maó and Defensa Animales Menorca.

Red Cross Craft Group Appeal and Diary Dates: The Craft Group which meets every Tuesday morning at Scandals in Es Castell urgently needs yourhelp. The ladies are in need of top quality items of clothing, handbags and bric-a-brac items which may no longer be needed or wanted for the Red Cross Annual Spring Sale on Saturday 12 May. So, if you are have a Spring clearout and would like to donate them and / or any other items for raffle prizes in aid of the Red Cross, please contact Anne Maddison on: 618 373 528 or email at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The Craft Group also urgently needs any small and medium sized, clean, label-free jars with screw on lids which are perfect for their homemade pickles and preserves. These can be dropped off during the regular Tuesday meeting at Scandals or anytime at the Trebaluger supermarket for the attention of Cassey.

Saturday 12 May: Annual Red Cross Spring Sale with great bargains such a handcrafted children’s buggy and pet blankets, cards for all occasions, doorstops, cushions and trendy hairbands. Also on sale are spring and summer plants, cakes, jams, pickles and loads of bric-a-brac items as well as the chance to buy raffle tickets for the ever popular prize draw to win all sorts of super gifts. Once again, this event will be held at the Aero Club in Sant Lluís.  

Saturday 2 June: The Red Cross Craft Group will have a daytime stand to display and sell their handcrafted goods at Menorca’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations event in the Esplanada in Es Castell. All proceeds from the stand will go towards supporting local Red Cross projects.

Household Cavalry Sponsored Swim Around Menorca: A chance remark made by one of the injured soldiers who spent a relaxing break in Menorca last year organised by Rest & Recover Menorca has gathered momentum to become a reality. Trooper Clifford O’Farrell, who sustained extensive injuries while serving in Afghanistan, initiated the idea of a 250 mile relay swim around the island to help raise money for the Household Cavalry Operational Casualties Fund. This has since been taken up, sponsorship and fundraising activities are underway and training has begun in earnest for the proposed ‘Atlantis Warrior’ Swim in September 2012. For more details, see our article ‘Around Menorca In Less Than 5 Days!’.

Menorca Charity Players Summer Shows: The MCPs are busy working on their 2012 programme, the first performance being a part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations being organised by the Menorca Britannia Association on 2 June in Es Castell. This will be a short play to commemorate one of the most iconic periods of British television comedy, with an episode from Hancock's Half Hour called 'The Bowmans', a parody on the classic radio show, The Archers. (Coincidently, Charles Collingwood of The Archers fame will be performing his One Man Show on the Isla del Rey a couple of weeks later on Monday 18 June - see our article Summer Events For Isla Del Rey, Menorca). The MCPs main Summer Show will take place on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 July, also to commemorate the Queen's 60th Anniversary. This will be a one hour show with anecdotes of music, dance and comedy to celebrate each decade of the Queen's reign and promises to be an evening of fun and laughter - so desperately needed in today's difficult times. The show will be performed in the Es Castell Town Hall Square, more details will be published nearer the event. 

The Menorca Charity Players are always on the look out for new members to help with the shows, either on stage or behind the scenes. They are actively seeking a wardrobe mistress plus younger male and female actors as well as anyone else who just wants to 'muck in'. Please email the MCPs at:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  or telephone: 696 434 787.