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Cozumel News July 23, 2014: Cozumel holds the “Carrera Mágica” Event, the Military Base Open House a success, and Cozumel Summer Vacation is in full swing.  This week’s addition to the new Volunteer and Donate section of The Cozumel Sun is Rancho Universo Horse Sanctuary and Riding Therapy.  Last, but of equal importance, I have added a list of items needed by the Cozumel Sea Turtle Rescue Project.  Check out new pages in New in The Cozumel Sun this week: In the Volunteer and Donate Section Cozumel The Humane Society of Cozumel  and The Cozumel Sea Turtle Rescue Program. Under Sponsors, Chilson & Associates International, New Listings for Oceanfront Condominiums and Two Cozumel homes for Sale! Note: If you are headed to Cozumel on vacation, or are returning to Cozumel from vacationing in the United States, check out the wish lists of the various non-profit organizations. Many of the items are not available in Cozumel and almost always, the items that are available are extremely expensive here due to the high cost of transporting goods to the island.

Cozumel “Carrera Mágica” Event

Mayor Fredy Marrufo Martín, accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Gina Ruiz de Marrufo, and sons Gerardo y Santiago, attended the “Carrera Mágica.”  The event, held on  Sunday, was attended by about 350 people of all ages.
Prior to the starting of the race, the Mayor thanked Iliana Bacab Chavarría, Angie Carrillo Chulim, Geimy Centeno y Rosy Pech, the organizers of  this event. The benefit was held for Carlos Mena García to help him  purchase a special bike to compete in the Ironman 70.3 MetLife. He also extended his gratitude to all Cozumeleños who joined this cause.

Meanwhile, the president of DIF Cozumel, Mrs. Gina Ruiz de Marrufo, highlighted the combined efforts of the community and government, who came together to make the dream of participating in the Half Ironman come true for Carlos Mena García , and thus contributed to the social inclusion of people with disabilities.  On behalf of the volunteers who organized the ” Carrera Mágica “, Angie Carrillo, thanked the Mayor,  the President of DIF Cozumel (his wife), and the competitors for their support and participation  to make Carlos Mena’s wish a  reality.
The race was three kilometers long on the waterfront,  starting from Rafael E. Melgar Avenue and 11^th to the Department of Defense store and returning by the same route to the Esplanade de la Bandera. After the race the competitors enjoyed family fun with games, botargas (clown or mascot outfitted person), gift raffles and various surprises.

Cozumel Military Base Open House

All went well this past Sunday at the second annual Sunday stroll in the premises of the military garrison. The Armed forces invited the public to the military field used by military divers, specialty teams, and pilots from the Mexican Air Force (FAM) Squadron 201 from eight in the morning until noon. People that attended were allowed to enter on bikes or walking to enjoy the few hours as part of a family activity that also served to educate the public on the many facets of the work done by the Army.

Cozumel Summer Vacation

The island is alive with International and National tourists enjoying the beauty of Cozumel. The media has reported an increase in flights to the island as well as a 20% increase in Marine Park activity. The economy seems to be enjoying a favorable increase and Cozumel beaches everywhere are busy.

High temperatures have driven tourists and locals alike to cool off at the beaches. Cozumel Schools went on summer vacation last week, so droves of local families are also taking part in enjoying the cooling waters of the Caribbean Sea every day possible. The Sea is the jewel of Cozumel, but do not forget your sun block!

Rancho Universo

Horse Sanctuary and Riding Therapy Camp

The Cozumel Rancho Universo is a non-profit organization that provides a permanent home for abused and neglected horses. The ranch rehabilitate horses they adopt and train the ones that are fit enough to provide therapy for children with different disabilities. The horses provide love to children and their motto says it all: HEAL A HORSE HEAL A CHILD.  A major role of the organization is to create awareness and educate people by allowing them to be around horses in a semi wild state. Horses are healers.

The founder, Liliana Hough, was born in Mexico City and attended boarding school in England. Her life revolved around horses. She was trained by the British Horse Society; she owned and ran a riding school in London, and worked as an instructor and therapist. She was Certified by the Asociación Mexicana de Equitation Terapéutica (AMET Mexican Asociación for Riding for the disabled) and Riding Federation of Riding for the Disabled International (FRDI). She has loved horses all her life and studied them as a professional for some 30 years.

The Rancho Universo started on October 19th 2001 when a friend called Ms. Hough to  report that a horse was tied up to a tree with PVC tubing on his legs, apparently abandoned and left to die. Since that rescue, the horses that have survived are rehabilitated and given a second chance in life.

In 2004 the horses began to give back by providing therapy to children with neurological problems.  In 2006 they were awarded funds by the Mexican Federal Government to improve the infrastructure for a RIDING FOR THE DISABLED CENTRE. They became Non-Profit Organization in May, 2008. They provide:

Ms. Hough believes that ignorance is the cause of the most damaging things in life, and that for centuries people have referred to animals as dumb, unthinking, unfeeling creatures. Pretty often when someone does something atrocious we hear “they are worse than animals”. The horses at the sanctuary have endured abuse, confinement and starvation, and then were discarded as rubbish. When this happens to a human, people are appalled and yet it is so common for this beautiful creature to have to endure this abuse. She describes the Ranch as a Sanctuary and permanent home for the casualties of this kind of thinking, animals that are sentenced to death due to human ignorance.

Liliana Hough does everything at the ranch as she cannot afford to pay for help.  The expense of feed, medicine, and medical bills are pretty high. The Rancho Universo needs financial assistance in order to survive. You can donate through www.ranchouniverso.org and through PayPal at rancho.universo@gmail.com. (They are not related to the Humane Society of Cozumel, and do not receive funds through them.)

Rancho Universo Horse Santuario

Transversal Km 11.3

Cozumel, Quintana Roo, México

77600 Cozumel, Quintana Roo, México

Hours:  Mon – Sun: 11:00 am – 5:45 pm

Phone: 987 1199828  please text us if you don’t get an answer

Email: rancho.universo@gmail.com

Websites:

http://www.ranchouniverso.org

Cozumel Sea Turtle Rescue  Donations Needed:

When coming to Cozumel – please consider bringing the following to assist with the Cozumel Turtle Project. I will be happy to meet you to collect anything you can bring with you Cindy Trautwein cintra07@gmail.com or 9871054708. The needs are aaa batteries for the head lamps – latex gloves for digging in the nests and plastic tape so we can secure the area for the natural releases at sunset as well as plastic tape is used (does not need to say caution) around the stakes in the sand for marking the nests…

Have a favorite charity in Cozumel? Contact me so i can highlight your favorite charity and help your organization recruit volunteers and donations!