Drink for a Good Cause at Beer Mania Tomorrow to Benefit Expat on the Mend From Major Surgery
After major surgery, following a severe abdominal aneurysm, well known and widely loved expat Dikran Gullekia is well on his way to recovery, and you can help by having a good time tomorrow at Beer Mania.
Friend Rudy Karam says Gullekia is doing better, and that he's out of the ICU. "It's a big relief," said Karam, who has been spearheading the crowdfunding for Gullekia.
Gullekia, an Armenian-Lebanese expat well-regarded for his animal welfare work, importing wine, and Middle Eastern cooking, is uninsured and so was subsequently saddled with huge hospital bills after falling ill. His friends started a crowdfunding campaign that quickly went viral, but Karam says more money is needed (see how much has been raised thus far here).
"We still have some money, but it depends on how fast he will be better and be able to return home," Karam says. "And even with that, our work and support is not going to stop, that's why all his friends and loved ones are trying to do more events and fundraising because we don't know when he will be able to work or take care of himself."
To that end, Sanlitun south bar Beer Mania will host a benefit for Gullekia Sunday (Dec 18) at 8pm.
"Dikran has been in Beijing longer than most people I encountered in Beijing the last 15 years," said Beer Mania owner Thierry De Dobbeleer. "Though I don't know him so well in person, I've always been amazed by all the goodness he spreads around him."
That prompted De Dobbeleer to host the event and collaborate with other members of Beijing's F&B circuit like Badr Benjelloun of Cuju and Caravan (who will donate four bottles of fine rum for the benefit), the owners of Dareen Coffee, and Rock on Radio DJ David Daniel (who will dole out some special tokens to top donors).
Daniel is eager to take part and help his old friend, whom he met at one of the many parties Gullekia hosted at his home. "He opens his house and his heart to strangers and welcomes them as friends," Daniel says. "In a world so full of war and disaster, it is a blessing to find someone with so much love and compassion towards people and the animals that he saves.
"I truly call him a friend and when I heard the news, I immediately jumped on board to do anything that I could do to help. I have been part of the fundraising since Saturday last week and will continue to help Dikran until he is back on his feet and sharing his big heart with people all around him."
Benjelloun, meanwhile, says it's a pleasure to help with the event. "[Gullekia] is one of the kindest people I know in Beijing, in terms of how he cares for others, for animals, in the way he opens his home for people to come to parties," Benjelloun said.
"He's very much a jolly fellow, and on top of that, it's just beautiful for me to see the community come together, and people who don't even know who the hell he is jump in and help, because he's one of us and it could happen to any of us if we don't have insurance."
Those words and efforts are deeply meaningful for Gullekia's loved ones and dear friends like Karam, who says: "I'm feeling happy that there's an event like this in his name, because Dikran is the most generous and good-hearted man I've seen."
Photo: Bottega
