The Association of Families of Children with Cancer of Castilla-La Mancha (Avanion) celebrated on Friday night, at Finca Los Lavaderos de Rojas, The second charity concertan event in which several awards were presented, including one … In honor of Dr. Maria Velasco, the first female oncologist, began working on pediatric cancer at Old Toledo Hospital.
“It is a reference for Avanion, especially for the families of Toledo and Ciudad Real and it is the most emotional recognition,” noted the president and vice president of Avanion, Juan García Gualda and Yolanda Fernández, respectively, before the start of the ceremony attended by 180 people, including the president of the Toledo Provincial Council, Concepción Cedillo; Regional Secretary of the People’s Party, Carolina Agudo; Senator Israel Peres; Provincial Health Delegate, Jaime David Corregidor and Toledo Councilors, Marisol Ilescas and Laura Villacañas.
The city of Bolan (Toledo), where the activities of the association have been organized for many years, was also recognized; CEIP “San Juan Evangelista” in Sonseca (Toledo), which since 2017 has organized a race for Afanion; Restoledo Group (charming hotels and spaces in the historic center of Toledo), which always cooperates in the activities of the Association, and the Department of Social Affairs of the Toledo City Council.
“As an association we also give what we receive, which is a lot from the Castilian-La Mancha community that has pushed and encouraged us. “To continue building an association together, which has now become a community and we take care of each other and get to know each other,” explained García Gualda, who also thanked companies, entities, cities, workers and volunteers for the work they have done over the years to ensure that Afanion, after 30 years, is the reference association in Castilla-La Mancha in the fight against childhood cancer.
Among Afanion’s projects is the creation of A Consultation for survivorsBecause 25 years ago there were other treatments and the consequences are appearing now. The association aims to follow up on survivors and carry out screenings for those who have suffered from cancer and who now have consequences on their bones, heart, hearing and sight due to highly invasive treatments.
They are also holding meetings with the Health Service of Castilla-La Mancha (SESCAM), due to the relapse of some patients’ disease, with non-original cancer. “We want the alert to go out so that they are not being treated for the first time as cancer, but rather to know that they have already received some treatments before. “There are places where you come out of the hospital after five years and they don’t follow you anymore,” Yolanda Fernandez explained.
Regarding palliative care for children, which is one of their demands, Sescam has already started implementing it and there is a team (doctor and nurse) in each province of Castilla-La Mancha, service from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday to Friday, although they recognize that it is necessary to expand it “because children do not decide what time or day they need palliative care.” Afanion tries to cover these needs with psychologists and social workers.
Afanion has three offices in Castilla-La Mancha: Ciudad Real, Albacete (which also covers Cuenca) and Toledo. There are 600 members and more than 400 cooperative partners.
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