The amount raised through the sale of raffle tickets in the last Christmas fair at Hospital Beatriz Ângelo (HBA) – an internal initiative, with products made by the collaborators and destined to collaborators – was now delivered to Ajuda de Berço. “Our gratitude is immense. This is the kind of support that allows us to proceed with our activity, day after day, for 24 years now”, states Sandra Anastácio, president of the board of the association. The symbolic “check”, representing the 1,830 euros raised in the Christmas fair, was delivered by Artur Vaz, which was the executive director of the hospital until the 18 th January, date on which ended the Luz Saúde management contract in a public-private partnership. “This is a demonstration of solidarity by the HBA collaborators towards an institution that does so much for those abandoned by everyone, but who, in the words of the poet, ‘are the best in the world’. This is another great legacy of HBA and it is an honour to be the bearer of this ‘check’. The amount is rather symbolic, but it resulted from the effort of the hospital’s collaborators”, stated the manager. Ajuda de Berço is a social solidarity association destined to welcoming and referring children up to three years of age, that are in a situation of risk or abandonment. Sandra Anastácio advanced that the money donated by the HBA collaborators will be applied in the purchase of equipment for the New House, a new building that the institution is about to open in Lisbon, in the neighbourhood of Benfica, where the main shelter house will operate. Since its foundation, in 1998, Ajuda de Berço has already received around 500 children, distributed between two houses. The new building will allow to expand the capabilities of the institution, that will be able to welcome children with chronic disease, between 6 and 12 years of age. The institution depends mostly of donations, from the founding entities, companies and individuals. All support is welcome.
