Daily News of Life and times in North Cyprus goes around the world
The Rotary Club of Kyrenia Cosmopolitan held a Music Night in the Gamblers’ Inn, (Kumarcilar Han) in Nicosia on 24th August, 2017. The night was organised and based on the fund-raising project of Rotarians Terim Erdemlier and Ben Benoit with the purpose to collect donations for Yesilyurt Special Needs Education Centre where both mentally and physically disabled children of a range of ages are provided educational and social activities.
The British Residents Society is a non-profit organisation, run by volunteers, that provides information, support and advice for those owning or renting property in North Cyprus.
Although they provide a service mainly to their members, they try to assist anyone else who asks. Most of their website advice and many of their services are shared with all who live or wish to live in the TRNC regardless of nationality.
All personal information that they receive is kept strictly confidential and shared with no other person or organisation. To visit the website of the British Residents Society please click here
By Graham Brown……..
They say old habits die hard and in my case, having spent my life working in the film and television industry as a cameraman, when I retired to Northern Cyprus I found a hobby in the shape of my camera and I have been recording local events ever since and showing them on my website Esentepe Community .
Apart from filming our local football team at their matches, one of my big annual projects is to help promote the Esentepe Fun Run and Ramble and I was delighted to do so again this year with help from my wife Trudy who organises the interviews..
It started when the Esentepe Fun Run was founded by the late George Roper who later became a cancer victim and it was good to be able to speak with his wife, Lesley Anne Roper who continues his quest to raise funds for Tulips – Help Those With Cancer Association.
Since its concept EFRAR has brought so many people young and old and in all shapes and sizes who have that drive to run or walk in memory of lost family members or friends.
You will see and hear in my video from many participants their uplifting accounts of why they take part in the EFRAR event and try to make a difference by helping others.
You will also hear from Mary Watson, EFRAR Chair and also Raziye Kocaismail who founded Help Those With Cancer Association – Tulips and with the donations received from EFRAR, many people who have cancer are given help and support.
So another EFRAR fun day came to an end with so many happy people leaving on buses and in cars and I look forward to 2018 and another EFRAR event in aid of Tulips.
News from Rotary Club Kyrenia Cosmopolitan………
Following the success of the last Auction and BBQ day at Jessic Bar and Restaurant in Karsiyaka in January that raised over 8000 TL click here, the Rotary Club of Kyrenia Cosmopolitan are planning another just the same on July 9th 2017.
Once again we are looking forward to a fun afternoon with great food, great bargains, and with some excellent entertainment provided by ‘Peter Swings’.
The Auction is still three months away, but as we are now in the season for a ‘Spring Clean’, we are asking everyone to think of us before you throw anything out! Small items of furniture, gardening or DIY equipment, kitchen items, sports gear – all are welcome!
No space? Not a problem – we will keep it until the Auction day.
Want to know more about the Rotary Club? Check out our Facebook Page click here or email us at kyreniacosmopolitanrc@aol.co.uk
By Chris Elliott…….
As each day goes by we are receiving requests for help from our readers and especially local readers and we are pleased to publish the following message from Barbara Willbye.
“Hello readers,
Here is a Great Opportunity...
I am very happy to let you all know that due to a prize from the Ladies Night Raffle being donated back to Tulips to raise extra funds for Tulips Help Those With Cancer, I am able to auction of an overnight stay for two people at the LORDS PALACE HOTEL in Girne, which will include check in for 2pm, quick lunch will be available, dinner, accommodation, breakfast and full use of facilities, the prize must be used on a week night only, and is valid until 16th April 2017.
This is a great prize and I personally think it is worth quite a high bid, if you have visited the Lords Palace you will know why!
Who will start the bidding at 200TL and let’s raise loads of money for this very much needed and deserving charity please.
For those who would like to make a bid do please email me by clicking here and providing me with the amount you wish to bid plus your name and telephone number and home address.
Thank you,
Barbara Willbye”
By Mary Watson……..
EFRAR Chair……..
There is something special about the Fletcher family. Last year Kai, who was then 14, was awarded the Carrington Shield for his outstanding contribution to E.F.R.A.R. He took part in both the 8k and 5k race and raised over 19,000TL for Tulips – Help Those with Cancer.
His father Ian has always been a keen runner and this year he and Kai founded the Hat Trick Club with a determination to run all 3 races – the 8, 5 and 2 km on 9th April. And …….it has become a family affair. Ian’s wife Sharon, who has only recently started running, is doing the 5 km and youngest son Kade is running the 2km for the first time. Together they hope to make a real difference to people suffering from cancer on the island.
They have also persuaded a few brave souls to join them. Leo Collier Bett and Paul Jones have already signed up for the Hat Trick Club and Susie Forster, Vicky Fidd and Amy Sakarya will join Sharon in the 5km.
This year we have focused more on health – the importance of running or walking to keep fit and encourage others to do so. However, it is also about money. With Tulips receiving requests from 3 new patients every day, and no support from the government, it is increasingly difficult to raise funds.
Kade, Ian, Sharon and Kai Fletcher of the Hat Trick Club
By Chris Elliott……..
This week I went with trepidation and sadness to the Lefkosa State Hospital Oncology department to record a promotional event and why was I so sad?
Some 8 years ago my late wife lost her fight for life in the Oncology Unit of the Lefkosa State Hospital following a six month illness during which time of visiting hospitals because of my involvement with the 112 volunteers, I became very aware of the problems facing expats in a foreign land when their partner becomes ill and little did I expect that when I was left alone my desire would be to help others.
I was somewhat relieved to meet a group of lovely smiling ladies dressed in football strip as they entered the new oncology building so I was spared the return to the original building where my late wife died of cancer.
So what was my visit to the hospital all about?
Back in October 2016 the Pink Ladies Football Teams, captained by sisters Kelly-jo Karlaman and Deniz Hasret, raised a fantastic sum of 15,897.60TL from their sponsored football event.
Both teams decided that they really would like some of the money raised to go towards buying something for the new Oncology Unit at Lefkosa State Hospital that would benefit the patients.
Treatment for cancer patients can be a very long drawn out affair, so it was decided that 8 TV’s would be purchased and installed in the Chemotherapy room and other resting rooms, to help entertain the patients, whilst they are undergoing treatment.
So on 21st March 2017, eight TVs were finally unveiled to much appreciation by Mr Bulent Dizdarli (General Manager of the hospital) and Dr Ozlem who were both in attendance.
Also present were Raziye Kocaismail and Engin Savim both from Tulips/HTWCA and a few of the ladies football team players; Kelly-Jo Karlaman, Deniz Hasret, Susie Forster, Sue Baker, Julie Taylor and Kimbo Sinclair.
As I left the new Oncology Building I turned to take a photo of it and walking 
towards me was Raziye Kocaismail who was dwarfed by its size as she and her helpers are by the scourge of cancer but the fight and fund raising goes on to help those in need.
Raziye said to me that since we first met and I published articles about Tulips a few years ago in newspapers, the number of new patients visiting her office everyday seeking help has increased from 2 to 3 people and with no support from the government, it is increasingly difficult to raise funds.
Cancer is a very real threat to life of those people living in Cyprus and I can only say thank you to all of those people who without thought for themselves arrange fundraising events or support them or just simply be a friend and helper to those who are in real need of help and support during very difficult times.
Appeal by Sue Steel…….
Can you see yourself doing one of the following:
runners are going the right way?We will give you a full briefing whichever you decide to do.
You would need to be at the Fun Run base – Carrington Site Sea Magic (Deniz Sihir) between 09.00 and approximately 14.00 on the day.
Interested?
If so please ring Keith on 0533 881 7690
By Margaret Sheard ….
As many people will have heard, our “star reporter” Kathy Martin is incapacitated due to a fall resulting in a very painful bruised back so she was unable to attend the Tulips Grand Handbag 
Auction at the Colony Hotel, Girne on Saturday 4th February. Chris and I assured her not to worry as we would cover the event for her.
There were many people in the Colony rooftop room looking forward to the auction which was being conducted by Adolf Kohn of Iain’s Auctions in Ozanköy. The Colony Hotel had laid on refreshments and food for the attendees of which there was a nice selection.
The event was organised by Ayşe Green and Seda Djemal from Tulips/HTWCA. Hatice Salih Kerimgil did a great job as compere for the occasion and when we arrived Hatice was giving a welcome speech in both Turkish and English with some information about the wonderful auction which was to take place.
The event started at 11am and before the auction commenced we were entertained by Koray Alper Ibrahim who sang and played guitar – Koray is a student at the English School of Kyrenia.
Following this Adolf Kohn started the auction. There were some wonderful handbags which had been donated by well-known TRNC ladies, and also included
was a donation from Sally Reilly who gave a beautiful leather Loewe £2,000 handbag bought for her in Dubai by her late husband Mike.. Sally said she is sure her husband would have been delighted that she had donated the handbag to such a worthy cause which would help others.
Donations of handbags were made by:-
Lot 1 Narin Ferdi Şefik – Supreme Court Judge
Lot 2 Emine Dizdarlı – Ombudsman
Lot 3 Nur Asil Nadir – wife of Asil Nadir
Lot 4 Sally Reilly – see above paragraph
Lot 5 – Sibel Siber – Speaker of the TRNC Assembly
Lot 6 Meral Akıncı – First Lady
Lot 7 Hazar Ergűçlű – TRNC Actress.
In addition to the handbags which were to be auctioned, there was a 
stall with a nice selection of handbags which were also for sale.
After the auction there was some lovely violin music played by Ammar Dadizadeh. Ammar is from Azerbaijan and he and 3 others belong to a group made up of violin, cello and double bass.
Ammar also accompanied the delightful Peri Sualp who entranced the audience with songs from the shows which also involved some quick changes of headgear etc. Peri is also a student at the English School of Kyrenia and studies voice with Demetra George Mustafoğlu, US Soprano and Grammy award nominee.
Ömer Alaçam of Acoustic Music was on hand with his sound system to also accompany Peri and we understand that he gives a lot of support at Tulips’ events where music is required.
There then followed the raffle which consisted of some very nice prizes.
A fantastic total of 5,385TL was raised from the auction, raffle and sale of handbags from the stall. Well done to everyone who contributed to this event and the supporters of Tulips who attended.
Ayse Green admires a bag bought by Adolf Kohn
The last event of the day was the “thank you” which was conducted by Hatice Salih Kerimgil with the awarding of Tulips plaques to Koray Alper Ibrahim, Ammar Dadizadeh, Peri Sualp and Ömer Alaçam who had so wonderfully entertained us, Ayşe Green and Seda Djemal who had organised the event, Adolf Kohn the auctioneer, the Colony Hotel Assistant Food & Beverage Manager – Alper Onan for providing refreshments, Pam Conway for her help with the organisation, and also a thank you was given to Hatice herself.
