Whatever happens, even if the worst happens, some projects have to be completed. And that’s what the friends of Iria Fernández Silva (O Barco de Valdeorras, 1981- Madrid 2020) did, who ended ‘Turn on a light. Words from cancer ‘, the book in which the poet collected the testimonies of people who, like her, were facing this disease. Iria died in April 2020, but before that, she commissioned her friend Elena Arribas to finish it and publish it. «The most valuable thing about this book, beyond its literary talent, is that it gives a voice to the patients themselves, in the middle of their process or once they have overcome cancer, as well as to healthcare professionals, family members and friends who are or have been dealing with the disease, ”says Arribas.
‘Turn on a Light. Words from Cancer ‘is a necessary project to understand how to live close to the disease and it is also a hug for all the people who are, have been and will be close to it. It is estimated that one in eight Spanish women will have breast cancer at some point in her life. the most frequent in women in Spain and the leading cause of cancer death in our country in women.
The publishing house Lastura, which has published the book, will allocate 100% of the proceeds to the Intheos Foundation, to finance the liquid biopsy project in advanced breast cancer, one of the latest advances to identify tumor biomarkers more quickly and less invasively.
In the work they have participated 38 authors affected by the disease, among which there are recognized poets such as Marta Agudo, Chús Arellano, Olga Muñoz, Isabel Miguel or Ignacio Miranda, the playwright Carolina Africa and the musician Rakel G., who has composed a song for the cause.
“Cancer is synonymous on many occasions with pain, suffering and death, but also with hugs and discoveries, with more love and strength than we thought we were capable of. As the authors of this anthology say, cancer makes you feel love without more, teaches you to wait, makes you choose the life we take for granted. It teaches you to live. You realize that most of the time you can only reach out; to help or to help you. This anthology pretends to be that: an outstretched hand », writes Arribas in the prologue of the work.
‘Turn on a Light. Words from Cancer ‘is also the starting point of a project in which the José Hierro Poetry Center Foundation is collaborating, the Metastatic Breast Cancer Association and the IES Galileo Galilei, of which Iria, author of the books ‘Living is your task’ (Ediciones Torremozas) and ‘There where there is no’ and (edited by Apollinaire’s Tailor), was Director of Studies.
With this initiative, «It is about perpetuating the values promoted by the poet: a vital, supportive, enthusiastic person and above all, always exhibiting a big smile, even in the worst moments of his illness ”, affirm the promoters.
– .
