Hello / Merhaba

It is Maggi here, 

Imagine! You are a busy chef working in a successful restaurant. You are happily married and have a baby daughter. Life is good.

Then while preparing Christmas dinner for the restaurant you collapse. It’s a heart attack! But it turns out to be even more serious. An aortic aneurysm has ruptured. After being rushed to hospital in Antalya your life is saved but after several more ruptures and a stroke you are left incapacitated, unable to walk or even speak.

There go any of us. Life has a very small turning circle.

The story above is, sadly, exactly what happened to Çetin, ever-smiling chef at The Junction, the restaurant I opened and ran in Kalkan for several years.

The difficulties and costs Çetin’s family face are staggering. He now requires physiotherapy twice a week with the hope that he can at least get up on his feet again. This treatment alone is expensive. Çetin’s wife is no longer able to work as it is a full-time job caring for Çetin and their 4-year-old daughter. The family is helping as much as possible but times are hard and life is very difficult.

When I heard of Çetin’s terrible situation, I reached out to offer help. The family has found it hard to accept help from outside. It is, after all, easier to give than to receive help. But the situation is so bad that they have accepted that they cannot come through this without the help of friends and well-wishers outside the family.

So, I am working with Chris Davies, who organizes the annual Mouse Island Charitable Swim, to raise some money to help. If you want to help you can give through this website using your bank card or PayPal, or you can give cash directly to Chris or me. Everything will be accounted for on this site.

(Please note that if you  pay online using this site, you will be asked by Fundrazr Corp for a VOLUNTARY payment (or tip) towards the costs of the site. You may pay, decline to pay or change the amount that is suggested by the site. Please make sure you make this extra payment ONLy if you want to)

I am holding a supper with Live Music by The Faithful at Aubergine Restaurant on Friday 13th January to celebrate ‘The Junction Years’ and to raise some money for Çetin’s family.  You can learn more and book by going to the Events page which will be published very soon.

 Thank you for your love and support

Maggie