When Roberto Alcalde, a doctor at 112 in Miranda de Ebro, retrieved from the drawer the novel he had written a few years ago to revise it and try to publish it with the sole objective of raising funds for childhood cancer research, he did not expect the supportive response that would come. .
At the moment he has not achieved his dream, publishing ‘Cardboard Smiles’, but he has raised funds for childhood cancer and aroused the interest of citizens and companies in a project that little by little continues to grow and expand. So much so that it is currently the third challenge in Spain with the highest fundraising under the umbrella of the Spanish Association against Cancer. Quite a milestone.
“I am overwhelmed and very happy with the supportive response of the people and with everything that is being achieved,” says the doctor, who does not lose focus on his key objective: “to publish the novel to donate all the copyright to the cause”.
For the moment and while that moment arrives, initiatives are emerging with which the doctor continues to raise funds. This is how the last of them was born, which aims to sell the most expensive costume in Spain. «As a result of making the initiative of the novel known and with the arrival of the carnivals, Esther and Beatriz Gil Martín, managers of Gilmar costumes and acquaintances, contacted me to propose holding a raffle for a costume and donating the proceeds to the cause,” he explains.
However, the Mayor thought that instead of holding a raffle for a costume “it would be better to make a bid” under the slogan ‘The most expensive costume in Spain’. Said and done, company and writer launched the initiative. The chosen costume is a superhero one. “It couldn’t be anyone else because in childhood cancer there are many heroes without capes fighting every day,” recalls the doctor.
Although the bidding for the costume was going to begin on February 1 and end on Tuesday the 13th, coinciding with the end of the Carnival festival, finally the promoters decided to give the starting signal. “As soon as we announced the bidding online, there were already people interested, so we decided not to postpone the start of it any longer,” notes the author of the novel.
In this way, whoever wants to participate in the bid must send an email to [email protected] with the subject ‘costume bid’ and the amount they want to bid. «The person will receive an email with the current highest figure with which they have bid and if their offer is lower they are invited to donate the amount offered to the cause and in exchange receive the novel ‘Carton Smiles’ in digital format» explains Alcalde, who assures that “for the moment all the people who have bid have been encouraged to donate the money.”
Of course, the Mayor has his sights set on the big companies in Burgos. “They are the ones who can make the most important bids and in the coming days I will try to contact some of them to try to get them to participate in the initiative” and “make the motto of ‘The most expensive costume in Spain’ real.”
Mayor and the Gil Martín sisters pose with the costume and cardboard smiles.OSCAR CORCUERA
The end of the bidding will also coincide with a very special day: February 15 marks International Childhood Cancer Day worldwide, which aims to raise awareness about the importance of the challenges faced by children. children and adolescents and their families, as well as the need for all children, anywhere in the world, to have access to accurate and timely diagnosis and treatment. “What better way to put a finishing touch to this initiative than coinciding with this important day,” explains Alcalde.
‘Cardboard smiles’
‘Cardboard Smiles’ was born from a personal experience. When Roberto Alcalde was twelve years old he experienced cancer up close. A first cousin her same age was diagnosed with a brain tumor from which she “fortunately recovered.” That experience marked Roberto’s life, not only because some time later he would study Medicine but because from that moment on he would have one goal: to collaborate in the fight against this disease.
‘Cardboard Smiles’ is a story in which childhood cancer is the protagonist but in which current issues such as gender violence, loneliness, self-improvement and the importance of smiling even when the soul does not want to are also addressed.
“I tried to move the novel and donate the copyright to the fight against childhood cancer but in the end it is very complicated and there was no luck,” explains the doctor, who some time ago recovered the text and revised it to fight again for his paper publication.
While that moment arrives and from the website of the Spanish Association against Cancer, Alcalde delivers his novel in online format in exchange for a donation to the cause (here is the link to Roberto’s challenge). “There is no small amount to fight childhood cancer,” says Alcalde. At the moment and through this platform he has managed to raise 5,766 euros.
2024-01-28 05:18:38
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