DEBRA the Butterfly Children’s Charity, the Cudeca Foundation and the Ronald McDonald foundation join to organise two charity golf tournaments. The first will take place on the 19th of June the Marbella Club Resort. And the 4th of July, the second tournament will be at La Cala Golf Resort.
The aim of these Malaga based charities is to raise essential funding to improve the quality of life of those supported by them. This includes families with Butterfly Skin, support for children with cancer and other terminal illnesses and to help provide accommodation for children spending long periods of time in hospital for treatment.
Furthermore, by coming together, the charities hope to recuperate some of the financial losses caused by the Coronavirus crisis. And furthermore, to continue to guarantee families the support that they need.
The tournaments
The tournaments will take place on the 19th of June at the Marbella Club Golf Resort (Benahavis). And on the 4th of July at La Cala Golf Resort (Mijas). To sign up, send an email to pieldemariposa@debra.es or call +34 619 505 180. The entry price is €85 for the first tournament and €65 for the second.
The main aim is to confront the economic crisis suffered because of the pandemic, raising funds for families in need.
In DEBRA’s case this is to continue offering physical, social, and mental health support to families with Butterfly Skin. This is a disease that causes extreme fragility of the skin, lifelong disability and pain. Cudeca will invest funding in support for patients with cancer and other terminal conditions. And the Ronald McDonald Foundation will use the funds for the Malaga house. Thereby providing accommodation for children receiving medical treatment away from home.
Coming together to face Covid
Through these events they hope to raise awareness and portray the extreme vulnerability of these families. Because this has been further aggravated by the health care crisis. “The pandemic has underlined the importance of a public health service, to look after us in the most difficult situations. However, our patients are always vulnerable, and they only have the charities to help them. Covid has cast a shadow over other illnesses, but patients continue to be here, with the same complex needs. Moreover, in the face of a National Health system which is confronting collapse we have continued to support our families” said Marketing executive and fundraising manager Ana Maria Ponce from the Butterfly Children’s Charity.
The economic and social consequences of this crisis have severely affected these charities. As a result, fundraising opportunities were brought to a standstill and charity shops were forced to close. Furthermore, a huge reduction in income meant charities were unable to guarantee the level of care and support they had been.
We are all in the same boat
This union around the tournaments is a fantastic opportunity to send a message of unity and solidarity between charities.” Our work is essential to families. As such, we are all in the same boat. Likewise, the three charities all work in health care. We all protect the most vulnerable families around. And we have all struggled through this complex and challenging time” said Esther Raez, Marketing and fundraising executive for Cudeca. Vicente Moros, manager for the Ronald McDonald home in Malaga said, “I firmly believe in team work and in unity to help our patients”. The DEBRA Butterfly Children’s Charity underlined they urgently need “the help and support of individuals and businesses to make this happen and reverse the current situation”.
The three charities underlined their excitement at the prospect of re-starting fundraising events. “Although many sectors have restrictions in place, golf is open as it is an outdoor sport with no spectators and all safety measures can stay in place”.
About DEBRA the Butterfly Children’s Charity
The Butterfly Children’s Charity is a non-profit organisation founded in 1993 by the parents of a child with Epidermolysis bullosa (EB). The aim of the charity is to improve quality of life for families with EB in Spain. A team of specialist workers are there to give guidance and advice to families and medical professionals. Additionally, they work on research and medical advances to make this condition more bearable. Furthermore, the charity also helps to raise awareness for the condition and the difficulties and obstacles faced daily.
About Epidermolysis bullosa (Butterfly Skin)
EB is a rare, incurable, and genetic disease that is caused by the extreme fragility of the skin. It currently affects 500 people in Spain. The skin acts as our first line of defence against the outside world, but in the case of children with EB their skin is as fragile as a butterfly wing. The lightest touch causes blistering and painful open wounds. Daily bandaging to protect the skin can take up to 5 hours a day and is so painful that morphine is required. This rare condition causes extreme disability and constant pain; the simple act of eating and walking are often accompanied by severe pain and distress.
About the Ronald McDonald House in Malaga
These centres created by the Ronald McDonald Foundation grew from the idea of providing accommodation free of charge for children and their families who are receiving medical care and treatment away from home. A referral is made by a doctor depending on the distance they need to travel for care, the type of treatment and the duration of the treatment. This home away from home is next to the Maternity and Children’s Hospital in Malaga and has room for up to 14 families (65 people) in en suite rooms for 3 or 4 people.
About the Cudeca Foundation
Cudeca Foundation is a non-profit organisation that offers professional medical care to patients suffering from cancer or other advanced illnesses. It also offers support to their families. Cudeca uses the palliative care approach. A field in which it has long experience and expertise leading to its ‘special kind of caring’. CUDECA treats not only the physical suffering but also the psychological, social, and spiritual aspect of the illness.
In 2019, Cudeca cared for 1,600 people and offered support to more than 2,400 family members. Since 1992, more than 17,000 patients have been looked after by the Cudeca Multidisciplinary Programmes. Namely, Home Care, Day Care Centre & Rehabilitation, In-Patient Unit, Psychosocial Programme, Counselling and Outpatient Consultation. All Cudeca care is free of charge. The charity works to help patients keep their dignity until the end.
CUDECA’s activity began in 1992 thanks to the work and dedication of English-born Joan Hunt, who was living on the Costa del Sol. After the death of her husband from cancer, she decided to dedicate her life to helping others facing the same situation. To this end she founded CUDECA. The palliative care team at CUDECA know that although they cannot add more days to life, they can and do add quality of life to days. To continue caring, CUDECA relies on the help of donors and supporters, and the work of volunteers.
