For the Love of Marti. . .

Corks popped and Prosecco toasts were made last Saturday night to celebrate one of the most significant accomplishments to have happened in the decade that we've lived in this slice of the Greek Peloponnese.  

Toasting the Marti's Fund milestone

We were celebrating a milestone for Marti's Fund, the volunteer-operated cat spay and neuter program in the Mani. A few weeks ago the program topped 1,000 cats whose lives have been made better since its inception a few short years ago.  That is such a significant accomplishment and has touched so many in this adopted expat home of ours. 

The 1,000th sterilization took place in late March 2026

The story of Marti's Fund is one of love: a love lost, a love found, and love shared in a small village in rural Greece. 

Love isn't a simple four-letter word in Greece. It isn't even a single word. The Greeks have more than five words they use when describing it. There's agape, an unconditional love, eros, a passionate love, philia the love of friendships, storge is familial love, that of affection and shared goodwill, and pragma, a practical, mature love often found in committed marriages. All have played a part in Marti's Fund. . .

Love Lost ~ the creation of Marti's Fund

Marti and Chuck Barlett in Dooley's Dog House store

Americans Chuck and Marti Bartlett moved to the Agios Nikolaos community in 2016 from Kirkland, Washington, a suburb of Seattle. There they had owned and operated Dooley's Dog House pet store and were tireless volunteers with regional animal welfare groups. 

We've been friends with them for nearly two decades, having met at Kirkland's The Grape Choice wine bar. The wine bar, besides being the local 'gathering place' much like television's 'Cheers', also served as host of numerous animal welfare fund raisers organized by the Bartlett's. A quirk of fate brought us all to the Mani, but that is a story for another time. 

Marti at Pantazi Beach cat shelter

Needless to say, they quickly became involved in animal welfare efforts here: rescuing dogs, adopting animals, feeding strays and working fund-raising events with MIAO (Mani International Animal Organization) the umbrella organization for a number of animal rescue efforts, now including Marti's Fund. 

Marti's unexpected passing in January 2020, rocked our Greek village; its reverberations were felt back in Kirkland. Within days of her passing, the Grape Choice 'family of friends' had organized a Go Fund Me in her memory. Donations were shared by that area's Cat Coalition and MIAO here. The funds for MIAO were earmarked for the spaying and neutering of cats.

Village street cats helped by Marti's Fund

'Our goal was healthy cats and limiting the cat population. Adoption wasn't and isn't our goal, it is to make life better for the cats,' Chuck says of the effort's intent.

With the blessings of MIAO, and a supportive team of local veterinarians, Chuck got the spay and neuter efforts underway. Pretty much a one-man, word-of-mouth effort in the beginning, he coordinated scheduling clinic appointments and payments. Sometimes he even helped capture unwilling cats. 

 'It gave me a purpose in life, when life wasn't very good for me', he says, of the Fund's early years. 

A Community's Love ~

Fundraising is key to helping the animals

The following year with the original memorial funds depleted, MIAO and Marti's Fund were at cross-roads. The program had become immensely popular. Residents were bringing in feral cats from villages far and near. Cat owners who couldn't afford the surgery's cost were also signing up.

Marti's Fund does not charge for any cat spayed or neutered through the program.  Those who are able, donate towards the cost of the surgery. In a few cases, the cost is paid in full to the fund.  The majority are done free of charge. That meant a call for financial help had to go out. 

And the communities responded.

Jean and I offer slices of cake for 3 euros

Fundraisers were and continue to be organized. Volunteers were recruited to work the fund-raisers. Artists and crafts people donated work to be sold at auctions and/or fairs.  Cakes by the dozen have been baked, sliced and offered for a 3-euro donation at countless gatherings. 

Village restaurant owners in Stoupa, Agios Nikolaos, Pantazi Beach and Thalames have hosted events. Businesses in the villages have donated auction items, in the form of goods and services.  Retail outlets - grocery stores, tavernas, the local nursery, and tavernas - have donation cans at checkout counters. 

Community support is strong - Marti's Fundraiser table

Nowadays MIAO and Pantazi Beach cat rescue and Marti's Fund are coordinating rescue and fund-raising efforts. The veterinarian team increased the number of weekly surgeries. Some cats were taken to Kalamata, our big city an hour's drive north of us to have surgeries there when the numbers were too great to handle locally.

And remember that The Grape Choice in Kirkland?  They have continued to host fund-raisers for Marti's Fund, having hosted three such annual fund-raisers in recent years. 

Love Found - and the future of Marti's Fund

Serendipity perhaps? Caroline Boris

Serendipity is described as finding fortunate things without looking for them. Such was the case with a serendipitous encounter at a Greek taverna between Chuck and Caroline Boris, an avid animal lover and regular visitor to this area from London.

Let's just say that encounter adds a new chapter to the story of Marti's Fund.  Caroline has been a committed supporter of Marti's Fund and in honoring her memory since that chance encounter.

Grape Choice Kirkland fundraiser

In July the two will be married. 

Instead of wedding presents, they are asking guests to donate to Marti's Fund.

Epilogue: 

Marti's Fund at work

Marti's Fund had its beginning with one man who chose to honor the memory of his wife, by creating a fund to pay for spaying and neutering homeless cats in the area. It was started as and continues to be a labor of love and remembrance.  Recently some of the administrative and fundraising workload has been shared by a Greek Canadian volunteer, Marisa Robins. 

I emphasize volunteer throughout this story because all of the animal rescue efforts - MIAO, Marti's Fund, Pantazi Beach Cats, Stoupa Cats and others -- are operated by volunteers, both Greek and expat. 

Chuck and Marisa thank the community member who had cat 1,000

While we celebrated the first thousand cats whose lives have been made better by this work, there are more than another thousand out there in need of help. There are currently more cats on the list for services than there are funds to pay for them. So, while organizers are committed, the key to the program's continuation is funding. 

 I can attest to the number of 3-euro slices of cake it takes to pay for a single surgery. We know the people involved and can assure you that all the money goes directly to the cats - this is truly a volunteer effort, an effort of love.

In closing I am giving you a chance to be a part of this story of love surrounding this grass-roots effort.  You can donate by using this link to Marti's Fund. 

I normally don't ask you to share my writing. But I am asking this time.  Please share this post or at least retell the story to others. You might just tell it to someone who needs to hear a Greek love story. . .or who wants to help some cats!

As always, thanks for your time. Wishes for safe travels to you and yours~