The Cedar Foundation, a Kazanluk-based charity benefitting children, is holding a charity auction and a weekend celebration from May 26 to 28.

The charity works with the Maria Louisa Orphanage in Buzovgrad for children aged up to four who have severe mental disabilities, and with the orphanage in Maglizh, which is home to 40 hearing-impaired children.

Mark O’Sullivan, organiser of the charity auction and the special weekend, said that on May 26 there would be the auction, a buffet and a concert by Ani Lozanova.

Items to be auctioned include a weekend at the Radisson SAS Grand Hotel in Sofia, at the Kempinski Golden Sands, at the Grand Hotel Sofia, and at the Hilton. Other items include meals at Murphy’s Irish pub, and a weekend at Bansko, donated by Mark Thomas of Jamadvice. The general sponsor of the event is Siemens.

On May 27, there will excursions to the famous Thracian tombs in the historical towns of Shipka and Kazanluk, the Russian church at Shipka and the Iskra Museum. After lunch at the lake at Koprinka, there will be an exhibition rugby match between the Murphy’s Misfits and the Bulgarian Barbarians, followed by a drinks reception. This will be followed by an evening meal and concert.

On Sunday, guests will experience something of Kazanluk’s rose oil traditions, to observe the rose distillation process and sample rose jams and rakia.

Accommodation will be at various hotels in Kazanluk: the Kazanluk, Rose Hotel and Golden Anchor.

O’Sullivan said that the weekend event would be attended by Irish ambassador Geoffrey Keating, the mayor of Kazanluk and representatives of the International Women’s Club and the British Council.

He emphasised that this was a ticket event and booking was essential. Tickets are available through the IWC, the British Council, Murphy’s, and by contacting him at 0889 22 89 35 and e-mail cedar@abv.bg.