| Spain – Young people without qualifications receive training from large companies thanks to the Salesian Social Platforms |
(ANS – Pontevedra) – The Salesian College of Castrelo in Cambados hosted this weekend, from August 28th to 30th, the First National Meeting of people suffering from Spinal Muscular Atrophy in Spain. Mercedes Álvarez Fernández is the untiring Ambassador and past pupil of the Centre.
Spinal Muscular Atrophy is a rare, very little known disease, and in Cambados it found an untiring ambassador: Mercedes Álvarez Fernández, called Merchi, who herself suffers from this disease in a less serious form, and who, since her disease was diagnosed last year, started a crusade so that it be given more visibility in civil society. In Cambados she succeeded.
Through a campaign of selfies, lectures and a football match…, Merchi managed to make the acronym of this disease part of the vocabulary of the citizens of Cambados. The Mayor Fátima Abal explains “I had never heard mentioning this disease until I knew Merchi”. This she admitted at the presentation of the meeting. From this weekend, many are those who will know more of this disease thanks to the First Meeting of National Sharing of Spinal Muscular Atrophy Families, which was held at the Salesian College of Castrelo, with the participation of families coming from all over the country.
The mobility problems of persons suffering from Spinal Muscular Atrophy provide few opportunities of meeting other people. Because of this, explained the city Councillor for Social Services, Tino Cordal, the most complicated problem is finding adequate means of transportation. “What matters is that children could meet other children like themselves; that families could communicate with one another”, said Merchi.
The sick continue to hope in a cure that has not yet been found, but they do not cease to do their best so that some laboratory begin the research work. In this battle, the director of the Salesian community and the college intend to give their contribution. José Rodríguez Pacheco will ask the famous scientist and professor, Ramón Cacabelos, of Cambados, to get him involved in this matter.
More information on the entire program can be found on Salesianos Madrid
Published 31/08/2015
