GIZA - On the first day of the Eid (Feast) in Egypt, public gardens are full of hundreds of people and dozens of happy families with their children. Last weekend witnessed something similar in the garden of the Turkish Ambassador's residence in Giza, namely the annual Turkish Spring Charity Bazaar. The event was organised by the Turkish Embassy in support of ‘Al-Nour Wal Amal Association', an NGO for blind people, the Children's Cancer Hospital (57357) and other charitable causes in Egypt and Turkey. "As every year, the Turkish Ambassador kindly invited us to talk about our work and encourage guests to donate blood," said Sherif Mamdouh, general co-ordinator of a blood bank called the Team Association of Friends of the National Cancer Institute at 57357. 57357 Hospital, located in el-Sayyeda Zeinab, southern Cairo, is one of the world's biggest hospitals for treating children with cancer. Fundraising for the hospital, including well-attended benefit festivals, started in 1998, with a target date for opening of December 2003. It eventually opened in 2007. It treats around 55 per cent of new childhood cancer cases in Egypt every year. "More than 50 guests donated blood, starting with the Turkish Ambassador himself," he told The Egyptian Gazette. During the eight-hour event, which started at10am, guests could also buy a variety of Turkish products �" accessories, cosmetics, kitchen utensils, clothes and mouthwatering food and beverages. There was also a concert given by the Blind Women's Orchestra who proved very popular, as did famous Egyptian singer Ghada Ragab a surprise guest at the event. Ghada delighted the gathering with her singing �" she even sang in Turkish. "It's my pleasure to participate in this charitable event for helping Egyptian children. Many thanks to the Ambassador and his wife for working so hard," she told this newspaper. "I sang in Turkish when I was very young. I uttered the words without knowing what they actually meant. Now, because of my love for the Turkish people, I am learning their language and culture," she explained, adding that she has already sung two songs with prominent Turkish singers. Egyptian diva actress Mervat Amin and Cairo Governor Abdel-Qawi Khalifa were also among the VIPs at the event. Ambassador Huseyin Avni Botsali said that this year's bazaar was bigger than those in previous years, attracting around 5,000 people.
