Our Fundraiser :

Nicaragua Living Co-sponsors Fundraiser to Help Battle Trichinosis

A group of local businesses – including Nicaragua Living magazine (www.nicaragualiving.info), Paraiso de Amelia (www.paraisodeamelia.com), O Sole Mio Italian restaurant, and El Nido Bed & Breakfast (www.elnidobedandbreakfast) – recently teamed up with Hospital Metropolitano Vivian Pellas and Casa Pellas to raise money for prevention and treatment of trichinosis. Some 80 people attended the August 11th fundraiser at O Sole Mio and generously donated $1,600 for the cause. Many businesses contributed raffle prizes, as well.

“We are so excited to have been a participant in this community event,” said Patrick S.  Lynch, partner in Paraiso de Amelia, an eco-friendly development in San Juan del Sur. “I think the event clearly illustrates that many people involved in business in Nicaragua, such as Paraiso de Amelia, are also contributing greatly to the greater community good. In the end, everyone benefits.”

Paolo Ferraro, O Sole Mio owner who hosted the event, had a personal interest in the benefit. Last year his 10-year-old nephew, Carlos Javier, became ill. At first, Carlos experienced flu-like symptoms. Later, he experienced frightening epileptic-like seizures. It was then that the doctors examined him for trichinosis, an easily preventable disease that occurs when infected pork is eaten.

“We were very fortunate that we had the means to detect the disease and treat it,” Paolo recalls. “Not all Nicaraguans are able to do this. We are happy that we are able to help them and to educate people and prevent this disease.”

Nicaragua Living Magazine Editor and Publisher Cheryl Serra added, “So many challenges are best resolved through education, and I believe this fundraiser will help us educate people in the community about how to properly and safely prepare pork. By doing this and by helping to fund treatment, we can avoid unnecessary illness.” Nicaragua Living is a new bimonthly magazine aimed at positively showcasing the myriad lifestyles available in Nicaragua.

Since pork is a staple of Nicaraguan food, and since many who slaughter the pigs don’t know the precautions necessary to ensure that it is safe to eat, trichinosis is unfortunately not uncommon. And the CAT scan used to detect the deadly disease, as well as the medications used to treat it, are too costly for most Nicaraguans to afford. The money raised through the fundraiser will help defray these costs.

With the experienced assistance of many people at Hospital Metropolitano Vivian Pellas and Casa Pellas, the event was widely publicized. Both Pat and Paolo appeared with Nubia Castilla, hospital marketing manager, on a local news show. In addition advertisements were placed in local publications and signs touting the event were placed throughout the country.

The following are the prize winners and the generous businesses that donated prizes for the event…a hearty thank you to all who supported this initiative!

• Executive Physical Exam at Hospital Metropolitano – Enda O’Donoghue
• A day fishing on Nicovale with Roberto – Jake Jameson
• A day of SCUBA diving lessons from SCUBA SHACK – Dan Polley
• A night for 2 at La Posada Azul – Fernando Cortez
• A night for 2 at El Nido B&B – Emma Holenstein
• A night for 2 at La Cascada B&B – Alberto Jose
• A night for 2 at Hotel Casa Blanca – Melba Sanchez
• A dinner for 2 at El Timon – Giselle de Mendoza
• A dinner for 2 at Pizzeria O Sole Mio – Eneyda Elizabeth Carrillo
• A dinner for 2 at El Colibri – Emma Holenstein
• A dinner for 2 at Capt Jims Sandwich Shop – Cristian Mores
• One hour massage at Luna Bella – John Casey