Gemma’s brave shave

Gemma’s brave shave

FUND-RAISER: Gemma Morton-Clark and Maria Esworthy Photo credit: Maria Esworthy

AT present Gemma Moreton-Clark has a fine head of hair.
All that is due change on May 1 when Gemma, part-owner of Cordob’r in Zurgena, intends to have it all shaved off.
Why?  To raise money that will help Maria Esworthy from La Alfoquia to forge ahead with her one-woman cat sterilisation programme.
When Maria first contacted the Euro Weekly News to tell us about Gemma’s sponsored head-shave ,she told us she had managed to spay or neuter 29 cats in the area.  By the next time we heard from she had trapped three more.
“It’s marvellous the way the community has pulled together,” Maria said.
Cordob’r, where the head-shave will be held, is organising a raffle for the big day and supplying the first prize. Other prizes continue to arrive, including those from other bars in La Alfoquia and Vera Playa, she revealed.
She was thrilled, Maria said, by the help she has received and continues to receive from the community in her bid to trap, neuter and return (TNR) as many cats as possible.
Supporters include the ABC Veterinary Service – “They are amazing,” Maria declared – together with Opulence, the hairdressers who will shave Gemma’s hair, Voss Homes and the Harmony Community Charity.
“They have all done so much to help me,” she told us.
“Plus every single person who pats me on the back, encourages what I do or just bloody smiles at me!” Maria declared.
Here at the Euro Weekly News we were curious to know more about Maria’s mission.
She explained that when she and her husband first arrived in October 2019, they rented an apartment in Vera Playa: “I had nine cats neutered there and found a home for one.”
Then, three days before lockdown in March last year, they bought their house in La Alfoquia but could not move into the property until the following May, owing to the Covid pandemic.
“La Alfoquia has everything we need,” Maria said.
“Amenities close to hand, a hospital 20 minutes away – let’s hope we don’t need that! – and 25 minutes to the beach with three airports within a couple of hours’ drive.”
Maria and her husband felt the place had a good community vibe: “That has definitely proved to be the case since I started the TNR programme.”
She has been trapping La Alfoquia’s ferals and strays over the last few months, Maria told us.
“I’ve raised money from kind friends at home in the UK, plus donations from villagers, Voss Homes and the Harmony community charity.
“I also raise money up-cycling furniture that I buy or have donated to me although some donations are so good they don’t need recycling.”
Maria stressed that she intends to keep going until the money runs out.
“At 57 I realise I’m a very fortunate lady and was lucky enough to retire early,” she admitted.
“But I have no income of my own so I have to generate funds wherever I can.  Then Gemma came forward with the head-shave idea which should help me to carry on for some time to come.”


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Written by

Linda Hall

Originally from the UK, Linda is based in Valenca and is a reporter for The Euro Weekly News covering local news. Got a news story you want to share? Then get in touch at editorial@euroweeklynews.com.

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