Martim’s booklet.
My story in a little 8-page book. Download it, print it or share it with anyone you like.
Download, print or share.
The PDF is ready to send by email or WhatsApp. If you print from here, the booklet comes out in the cover colour you picked.
Boliqueime, Algarve
Every cap is a step for me.
me, training!My story and how you can help me.
demaosdadaspelomartim.pt
my story
Hi, I'm Martim.
I spent 40 weeks and 6 days growing safe in my mum’s tummy, healthy and happy. Everything changed at birth, which did not go as expected: I was born in cardiorespiratory arrest and needed immediate resuscitation.
A few days later, the doctors told my parents I had suffered hypoxic-ischaemic injury. I was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy – Dystonic Tetraparesis, a condition that challenges every movement I make.
Since I was 15 days old I have had physiotherapy at the public hospital in Faro, the city where I was born. At 4 months I started at APPC Faro, where I keep making progress every day.
“Every step I take towards independence is a sign of the love and support I receive.”
my family
in Boliqueime
together we are strongerHand in Hand for Martim2
my treatments
The month that makes me stronger.
Whenever my parents manage to raise the funds, my mum takes me to spend a month at Clínica Kinésio in Espinho. That is where I take my biggest steps.
Each month combines
- Physiotherapy (Therasuit method)
- Padovan method
- Speech therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Transcranial stimulation (TDCS)
with Mum, at Kinésio
every step counts!“The more treatment I get, the more independent I become. And every cap you keep helps pay for it.”
Hand in Hand for Martim3
the numbers
From your hands to the clinic.
Our partner companies weigh what we collect and pay Clínica Kinésio directly. No money passes through my family’s hands.
| Material | Who pays | Per tonne | 1 BigBag ≈ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic caps | Resialentejo, Beja | €411.60 | €123 |
| Metal caps | Resialentejo, Beja | €465.60 | €140 |
| 100% cork stoppers | Amorim, Silves | €500.00 | — |
Problem: a BigBag holds about 300 kg of plastic caps. How many make one month of treatment?
300 kg × €0.41/kg = €123 per BigBag
€6,740 ÷ €123 ≈ 55 BigBags
55 BigBags give me a whole month of getting stronger.
our BigBags, marked no. 167Hand in Hand for Martim4
the most important step
Sort like my dad.
A BigBag must hold one material only and at least 250 kg. If anything is mixed in, the whole bag can be rejected. If in doubt, leave it out.
Plastic
- Water and juice bottle caps
- Milk carton caps
- Shampoo and fabric softener
- Detergent
- Toothpaste
- Water-jug handles
Metal caps
- Beer caps
- Soft-drink caps
- In a bag of their own
Cork
- 100% cork stoppers
- Stoppers with a plastic top
- Stoppers with a wooden top
Not accepted
- Spray caps
- Pumps
- Plastic stoppers
- Food-container lids
- Paint lids
- Syringes
- Whole water jugs
Bottles with the VOLTA symbol? Each bottle returned at a Volta point gives you 10 cents, and the machines accept it without the cap. You keep your 10 cents and the cap comes to me! Always check on screen that the deposit counted.
Hand in Hand for Martim5
the drop-off points
Where to drop off your caps.
My dad visits these 14 points to collect the full containers. Drop off during each place’s opening hours.
Boliqueime 8
- CD Boliqueime
- EB1 Benfarras
- Junta de Freguesia de Boliqueime
- Centro Comunitário de Vale Silves
- EB 2,3 Prof. Dr. Aníbal Cavaco Silva
- Lar da Santa Casa da Misericórdia
- Centro de Saúde de Boliqueime
- Agrupamento de Escuteiros 1174
Albufeira 3
- EB1/JI de Vale Pedras
- EB 2,3 Profª Diamantina Negrão
- EB1 de Vale Carro
Olhos de Água 1
- Symbiosis Pub & Bar
Paderne 2
- Centro Paroquial de Paderne
- Centro de Saúde de Paderne
see the map and the point closest to youdemaosdadaspelomartim.pt/mapa
Hand in Hand for Martim6
more ways to help
Join my team.
Make a donation
Charity account in the name of Martim Silva Cruz:
PT50 0045 7214 4036 8604 7382 1
Prefer to give straight to the clinic? Call Clínica Kinésio (+351 914 032 345) and you get a receipt with your tax number.
Got a van?
Getting the BigBags to Beja, at 300 to 350 kg each, is our biggest challenge. A single trip helps a lot.
Run a collection point
At your school, club, business or café. You collect the caps, my dad picks them up.
Run an event
A walk, a tournament, a concert, a cake sale. We help spread the word.
Together we already did this: BFF Solidário 2026.
About 80 people sorted 600 kg of metal caps, 600 kg of plastic and 100 kg of cork in one afternoon.
BFF Solidário, in BoliqueimeHand in Hand for Martim7
Thank you for every bottle cap.
read my storydemaosdadaspelomartim.pt
Hand in Hand for Martim · Boliqueime, Algarve · Case no. 167