Care for the carers – Salón Varietés artists rally community

Monday, June 23 saw a gathering at the Salón Varietés in Fuengirola for the handover of a cheque to the Alzheimer’s Dementia Support Group (ADSG) for €5,319.

This was the amount raised through ticket and raffle sales at the Salón Varietés Singing for Alzheimer’s night on May 31 with Brian Piccolo and friends. But it wasn’t the only amount given over to ADSG. Then there were the generous donations made directly, as well as the takings from the raffle, some €1,800, to Brian Piccolo, bringing the total up to well over €6,000.

Pat Jay, president of the charity, was there to collect the cheque. Pat explained that the charity, which was only registered 18 months ago but which has been active as a support group for a long time, helps carers continue with their caring. “If anything happens to the carers, there’s no one to look after the person with dementia. We help them by giving them time out to go and get their hair done, or whatever they need to alleviate the strain of their 24-hour-a-day responsibilities. And we put professional carers in for a couple of hours a week so that they can have a break,” Pat explained. “And when we have a support group meeting, the first and third Monday of every month, they all get together and talk about what’s gone on in the week, and we discuss often difficult issues like care homes, so the carers are all there to support each other.”

“It’s a hidden toll that’s taken on full-time carers that is often forgotten”, Sarah Coombes of the Salón Varietés said with some personal experience of the situation.

On the Singing for Alzheimers night, well-known and loved Costa del Sol performers Toni-Leigha, Melissa Carver, Ricky Lavazza, Emma Luisa, Mark Connor, Mario Ross and Ron Howells, donated their time to perform at the Salón Varietés with Brian Piccolo, with all proceeds going to ASDG.

For more details on ADSG, look up www.adsgmijascostaspain.com, or email info@adsgmijascostaspain.