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Julie and Steve Hall raised £2,935 from 25 supporters
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Closed 05/03/2018
Weʼve raised £2,935 to to help rebuild our life in retirement after the devastating fires in Central Portugal.
- Benfeita, Portugal
- Funded on Monday, 5th March 2018
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Story
Dear Friends, As you may be aware on October 15th and 16th this year raging forest fires raced through Central Portugal, our little valley did not escape. We retired after working long and hard for 40 years, to this peaceful little valley where our pension let us live frugally but happily. We built with our own hands a log cabin, which we lived in for 2 years whilst we renovated an old ruin as a home. We built 2 log cabins which housed our furniture and building tools and solar system. We planted fruit trees, grew our own veg, even built our own outdoor furniture and the bridge across the river. It took 5 years to build and 3 hours to burn. We are devastated. We still have a roof over our head, the renovated ruin, but everything else needed to sustain our off grid life in retirement here, is ash. We"re not insured! We couldn"t find an insurance company who would take on wooden structures.
So .........
Solar panels, inverter, controller, batteries, charger, all gone : no electricity. 2 generators, gone, no electricity. 900 metres of water pipe, gone, no water. Pump and tanks, gone, still no water. Gas tanks, firewood, gone, no heat, no cooking. All our stored victorian furniture, computers, stuff handed down from grandparents and parents, keepsakes from our childhood and our children. The list goes on and on. To replace bare essentials, power, water and heat, it will cost 9500 euros. To replace everything else, 123,000 euros. We are hoping that we can raise funds for the bare essentials for life in this burnt out valley. We would like to rebuild our life, our land and our home, we ask for your help no matter how small. We will be eternally grateful and hope some day we can welcome you into our beautiful valley as our guests. Love to us all. Julie and Steve
Updates
1
- 6 years ago
Julie and Steve Hall
6 years agoShare this update to help us raise more
Julie and Steve Hall started crowdfunding
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Supporters
25
Jo Sweeting
Dec 30, 2017
Fires are devastating. It does get easier but it never goes away. Stay strong you have each other and family ❤️
£25.00
Merlin Matthews
Dec 19, 2017
Hi Julie and Steve, this is the money from the Bulb cheap green energy sign ups, I hope it helps :)Sorry it was not moreEnjoy your festive seasonBig Lovex
£400.00
Bryan Stevens
Nov 28, 2017
I lived in Portugal for two years and love everything about the country. The terrible fires have greatly distressed me, e eu espero que este pequena donacao pode ajudar un pouco I heard via Merlin
£100.00
sonia lopes
Nov 27, 2017
Sending lot's of love, our hearts go out to you and the community.
Christine and Jean-Marie
Nov 14, 2017
Hope our contribution helps you to rebuilt a new life in your little valley. We think about you. Hugs from us !
£100.00
Merlin Matthews
Nov 12, 2017
Thinking of you guys. Hugsx
£100.00
Melanie Methley
Nov 11, 2017
I’m Alissa’s sister and was so shocked and saddened to hear about what happened. I hope my small contribution helps in some way and wish you all the best for the future. Mel Methley
£20.00
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Julie and Steve Hall
Benfeita, Portugal
I"m Julie my husband is Steve. After my husband suffered a heart attack 6 years ago we decided that 40 years working was a good amount of time to justify retirement. We settled on Central Portugal where land was affordable, so we gave up everything to live the "good life" ....