Barcelona to build Europe¡¯s largest child cancer treatment center
Lionel Messi throws weight behind campaign to raise €60 million for Sant Joan de D¨¦u hospital
Soccer star Lionel Messi is lending his support to a campaign to raise €60 million to build Europe¡¯s leading child cancer hospital at Barcelona¡¯s Hospital Sant Joan de D¨¦u. The #paralosvalientes (for the brave), campaign will see the Argentinean international and FC Barcelona striker work alongside the FC Barcelona Foundation and the IESE business school.
¡°It will cost €30 million to build the hospital and another €30 million to buy the proton [therapy] machine, which reduces side effects in patients,¡± explained Manel del Castillo, the director of the Sant Joan de D¨¦u hospital, at the launch of the campaign at FC Barcelona¡¯s Camp Nou soccer stadium, an event during which €3 million was raised.
Aside from the €30m required to build the hospital, a further €35m will be needed to run it each year
Messi, who attended the hospital for a growth-hormone treatment after he moved to Barcelona at the age of 13 to play for his side¡¯s youth team, also features in a promotional video to help raise funds around the world.
¡°For every child cancer that is detected, there are 200 cases in adults. In Spain there are 1,200 cases a year, but it is hard to find funding and we have to rely on philanthropy. This project is the dream of a lot of people, above all, children. It is an unusual disease that affects randomly. That is why we must be ready when it comes,¡± says Andr¨¦s Morales, the oncologist leading the project.
The plan is to double the number of patients that receive treatment at Sant Joan de D¨¦u, which at present is 216. Aside from the €30 million required to build the hospital, a further €35 million will be needed to run it each year.
¡°This will be done through three financing sources,¡± says Del Castillo. ¡°The first will be through the public health service, the second through agreements with other countries, and finally, a donor fund will be set up to help children in countries that do not have arrangements with ours.¡±
He hopes the hospital, which will be the world¡¯s third most important in treating child cancer, will be ¡°a world-class elite facility, but not for the elite,¡± highlighting the importance of establishing strong international ties.
¡°Sixty years ago we had virtually no solutions for child cancer cases: today, 80% of children are cured. This percentage could be increased, but we need a center where the talk is about cancer the whole time and all the resources are used to solve problems,¡± explains Morales, stressing the need to acquire proton machines for a form of cancer treatment which brings with it fewer side effects, especially important for children.
English version by Nick Lyne.
RAISING MONEY FOR THE BRAVE
The #paralosvalientes campaign aims to raise awareness in Spain and around the world about treating child cancer. Barcelona soccer stay Lionel Messi, along with fellow soccer player Xavi Hern¨¢ndez and Spanish basketball stars Pau and Marc Gasol, have thrown their weight behind the fundraising drive to build the new child cancer center. Anybody wishing to contribute can make a bank transfer: ES97 2100 5000 5302 0015 9389, by phone: 902 04 04 04, or by internet: www.paralosvalientes.com and www.fundacio.fcbarcelona.cat Businesses can do so through: paralosvalientes@sjdhospitalbarcelona.org
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