130 people crowd in for local Palestine fund-raiser

“A success” is how organisers described last month’s medical aid for Palestine fund-raiser at Martinborough’s Village Cafe – raising funds for Medicins Sans Frontiers (MSF), Medical Aid

for Palestinians and The Red Crescent.

People attended from Tinui, Masterton, Carterton, Greytown, Featherston, Petone, Martinborough and all places in between – including the USA. 

“Like a Rolling Stones concert, it was a full house _ so much so that another table had to be brought in and more seats found,” organisers said. They had hoped for maybe 80 attendees _ some 130 turned out. 

Why a fund-raiser _ $4,100 was raised for medical aid _ for Palestine?

“In our own small way we want to maintain awareness of the situation, but we also know that our posts on Facebook and WhatsApp are seen by Palestinians. They are heartened to see that people around the world care about them,” said organiser Richard la Mare. 

“Millions of Palestinians are hugely grateful” to the speakers “who gave their own personal graphic and detailed descriptions of their visits to The Illegally Occupied West Bank and what they actually saw.” 

He added “massive thanks” to the Martinborough Quartet musicians, singer John Monro, and to singer-songwriter and musician extraordinaire Sam Augur.

More thanks was extended for the “amazing raffle gifts from local businesses, and stunning

work by local artists, craftspeople and supporters, for which the recipients of the money are all

very grateful.”

He noted the plentiful tasty food prepared by The Village Café was greatly enjoyed with many going back for more. 

And he thanked “all the hardworking people who helped on the night” _ managing the merchandise table, selling raffle tickets and selling and checking tickets at the door.

“Finally, thank you to all who travelled from far and wide on a cold and wet miserable night.” he said.

“This cannot be considered to be  ‘virtue signalling’” he added.