The La Cala de Mijas Lions Club was one of the main highlights at the fourth edition of the Joan Hunt Awards, receiving the accolade in the Solidarity category. The ceremony, organised by the Malaga Provincial Council and the Cudeca Foundation to recognise the contribution of foreign residents in the province, took place on the afternoon of Thursday 25th in the Edgar Neville Auditorium in the capital, where the extensive work of the group from Mijas was praised.

 

The mayoress, Ana Mata (PP), attended the event, describing the award as “very well deserved”, and highlighting the close collaboration between the association and the Town Hall. “These awards are very important for the province, but also for Mijas”, said Mata, noting that “one has been awarded to an entity that works very closely with the Town Hall in all areas. More than 30 people are part of this association, carrying out charitable actions every day to support essential projects in our municipality. Therefore, I am very pleased that the name of Mijas is associated with the solidarity of the La Cala Lions Club”.

 

For his part, the club’s president, David Kay, described the recognition as “fantastic” and expressed that he was “very grateful and satisfied” on behalf of an organisation that, as was revealed during the gala, has raised more than one and a half million euros for charitable causes throughout its history. “Our work is to help all those in need, within our means”, he stressed.

 

In honour of a great person

These awards are inspired by the British figure Joan Hunt, founder of Cudeca, and her legacy in palliative care. The foundation’s manager, Marisa Martín, described the gala as “inspiring”, as it allows us to “see all the people who have made this land their home, this Malaga that so many people love, and everything they do to make it more interesting, fairer and more supportive”.

 

The president of the Provincial Council, Francisco Salado (PP), presented the award and praised the work of the Mijas club. “We want to recognise the work of those Malagueños who were born elsewhere and that give the best of their lives to help others”, said Salado, adding that the La Cala de Mijas Lions Club has carried out “social work for many years, helping not only the foreigners living here, but also people at risk of social exclusion”.

Other winners 

Along with the award given to the Mijas collective, the gala also recognised the work of seven other individuals and institutions. In the Culture category, the award went to Chilean publisher Lorenzo Saval; in Sport, to Russian-born swimmer Nina Zhivanevskaya; and in Communication, to the English-language newspaper The Olive Press. The Sabor a Málaga award went to Paraguayan pastry chef Dora Ortiz; the Business Career award went to the Hotel Los Castaños in Cartajima, run by a German couple; the Diplomatic Work award went to the German Consulate in Málaga; and the Municipal Initiative award went to Estepona Town Hall for its ‘Sharing Cultures’ programme.

Share it with this link: https://mijasint.com/?a=35786