Hope Fund raises thousands for Algarve’s animals

The Hope Fund’s annual charity golf tournament this year smashed all its previous achievements and raised an inspiring €15,000, which will be put towards helping stray and abandoned animals across the Algarve.

The event took place last Saturday, January 24th, on the Palmares Golf Course, at Meia Praia. A total of 88 enthusiastic golfers participated in the charity tournament, many of whom had come from the UK and Ireland. Players’ hopes were answered when the rain held off for the day, making the round even more enjoyable.

“The course was wonderful and the weather was perfect golf weather” said the event’s main organizer, Doug Clarke.

A lavish evening meal at the Tivoli Lagos Hotel followed the day’s activities, and featured a prize draw and an auction to raise more revenue for the Hope Fund.

The auction alone, which boasted a star-prize of a champagne boat trip courtesy of Blacktower Finance, raised €7,000.

Michele Jones, a long-term resident who founded the Hope Fund in 2000, told The Portugal News the staggering amount would “cover a whole year’s treatments” for stray and abandoned animals. This includes veterinary treatments, neutering, treating ‘hit and run’ cases, and organizing neutering campaigns.

Doug and Michele initiated charity golf tournaments for the cause in 2004, and have since raised an estimated €50,000.

After three months of intense organizing the day was more successful than anyone could ever have hoped for.

“I can’t believe we raised so much money. I thought that, given the economic circumstances at present, we would not raise as much as previous years, but we have done our best to date”, said Michele.

Doug and Michele would like to take this opportunity to thank all of their many sponsors, participants, and those who donated prizes.

They would particularly like to thank Palmares for the use of their course.

For more information, contact Michele at the Hope Fund on: 919 457 263, or e-mail: happyhounds@mail.telepac.pt.

The Hope Fund is not a refuge and does not take in animals.