12-05-2007

Our Christmas fundraising campaign 2007 has enabled us to yet again offer the patients in Lisbon a festive dinner. We would like to thank all the people who made this possible by their generous donations! In the first week of december Grace Beatriz, on behalf of the Dany Foundation, arrived in Portugal on her own expense. She went there first of all to organize a dinner for the sick pension residents.

On December 5th a dinnerparty was held for approximately 30 patients in the well known restaurant En’Clave in Lisbon (Bana, a highly estimated capeverdean singer, has for many years been the owner). It was a very festive occasion for the patients. They all had on their best clothing (sometimes donated clothing brought from Holland by Grace). The women got their make-up done by Grace, a trained visagiste.

Of course there was plenty of Katchupa, the national dish of Cabo Verde. Furthermore there was a live band playing capeverdean music. It was a very intimate and care free evening. The patients all had a very good time. Later in the evening every one received a present. 

To view more photo’s of this dinner please visit our new photogallery Diner with patients. New photos of the pension residents and their current minimal housing situation can be seen in Pensions in Lissabon. During the visits to these pensions Grace handed out all the clothing and other goods which had been collected in Holland. The pension residents were most grateful for this since there is a general lack of basic things under the residents.

With the proceeds of our Christmas 2007 fundraising we were also able to buy presents for the sometimes very young mostly cancer patients who usually reside in the clinics where they are being treated. You can see some of these young patients in The Patients . This was a very emotional visit. All the children were very happy with their presents. Despite their life threatening disease they mostly displayed an upbeat mood.