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The Spanish Cancer Association started working actively in Almuñécar in 1998 since when it has raised more than 50,000 euros in aid of cancer prevention and treatment. Principal fundraising sources are private donations, the national Cancer Flag Day and the very popular Rastro, or Flea Market (see below) which is held monthly in Almuñécar.

Recently the Association inaugurated a new mobile Mamagraph Unit for the province of Granada, costing 300,000 euros, which was funded by volunteer work and donations. The AECC is also working hard to raise money to operate the Palliative Care Unit, also mobile, which provides highly trained professional help to advanced cancer sufferers. The unit, which has been functioning for four years, includes a doctor, nurse and psychologist who attend patients in their home, giving treatment, pain control and psychological help. This service is completely free and available to patients of any nationality.

The AECC also expects to open a centre in Motril which will help to coordinate and manage its activities as well as provide a place for treatment and therapy.

The Rastro

This is a monthly flea market/ boot sale held by the AECC at Almuñécar´s fairground on the first Saturday morning of each month. The fairground is located at the main entrance to the town on the Paseo de Blas Infante, opposite the gasoline station.

This has become a popular local event which attracts up to a 100 stalls each month and is one of the most important local sources of revenue for the Association. Anyone can put up a stall for a small fee of either 3 or 6 euros, depending on the space occupied, with ticket sales going to the AECC. Funds are also raised from the Association's own stall which sells secondhand goods and bric-a-brac.

How You Can Help

There are many ways that you can help the AECC.

• Cash donations - any amount will be gratefully received
• Volunteer work - we need unskilled volunteers to help collect goods that have been donated to the Rastro as well as run the stall. We also need people to help collect donations during National Cancer Flag Day in March.
• Gifts and secondhand goods - we need items, old or new, to sell at the Rastro. Anything you can spare will help, such as decorative items, books, records, kitchen equipment, tools and so on. Call Jeanette Ashby (contact details below) and she will arrange to pick it up.

Whatever you can spare, whether it's a few minutes a week of your time, some forgotten items from your garage or a few euros from out of your pocket, it all helps.

Your contribution, however small, can make a difference.

For further information contact:

• ALMUÑECAR (Jeanette Ashby) Tel: 958 63 03 30
• MOTRIL Tel: 958 22 07 43