Charity windfall
AMATEUR thespians gathered at Girne’s Pia Bella Hotel yesterday afternoon to present a total of 8,000TL from their 2017 season to the SOS Children’s Village Association and Kyrenia Animal Rescue (KAR).
Kyrenia Amateur Dramatic Society (Kads) chairman Don Attwood handed over a 4,000TL donation each to KAR head Margaret Ray and SOS’s Çise Özverel, who brought along a handmade ceramic gift made by grateful young members.
Mr Attwood also thanked Mehmet Eminsoy and staff at his Pia Bella Hotel for hosting the “travelling players’” shows last year.
Pia Bella waiter Naseer Khan stepped up to accept a thank-you gift and certificate and said: “We are always happy to look after such lovely people!”
Kads members Beverley Westbrook, Caroline Attwood and Stephen Everett joined the group for the presentation in the hotel garden, along with SOS social worker Çağan Türkoğlu, PR officer Raşit Kutlu and KAR shop supervisor Gwen Cassell.
Mr Attwood said: “It gave us all the greatest pleasure to act in our Christmas Cracker show, Phil Lucock’s comedy and Beverley’s Shakespeare and other sketches, and also to hand over the proceeds to our charities.”
Yesterday’s am-dram windfall was the second this week for SOS, after the presentation of 10,150TL from Lord’s Palace Hotel staff in Girne.
The money, which will help cover education, health care, food, clothing and social activity costs for youngsters at the Lefkoşa village, was handed to SOS national director Refike Ince on Tuesday during a visit by hotel staff, led by marketing and communications director Melisa Demir.
Ms Ince thanked the visitors for their generous contribution to children’s welfare.