Amazing Expat-run Charity In Spain Celebrates Its 35th Anniversary

Celebrating its journey from its humble beginnings to international recognition, the British expat-organised Help charity is now enjoying its 35th anniversary.

Now known as Help of the Marina Alta (HMA), the charity was started simply to help elderly, infirm expats with their shopping and other basic needs such as interpretation and is now established at the Denia Marina Salud, the region’s largest hospital. During the years, the volunteers expanded their expat services to include donations to all 12 of the region’s healthcare centres and is planning to continue its growth in order to provide much-needed support and help to the region’s expatriate community.

The group’s 35-year black-tie Las Vegas Evening anniversary celebration was held at Denia’s glamorous upscale Condado Club, and featured an address from the charity’s president Candida Wright in which she described the charity’s long string of successes since its formation. The Master of Ceremonies followed, telling the enthusiastic audience over €3 million had been raised since its inception, adding the charity had helped around 50,000 people.

Over the years, cash raised via donations as well as sales in two charity shops has purchased portable ECG units, heart monitor machines and much more medical equipment as well as providing 40 special beds for the home use of terminally ill expat and Spanish national patients. This year, Wright became the third volunteer to be awarded an MBE in the UK’s New Year Honours List for services to Spain’s expatriate community. Spain has few independent charities dedicated to helping expats enduring ill heath or living with terminal conditions, making HMA’s work even more essential for the community.