AVOI

Children’s Cancer Charity Malaga

Team Spain Walking Football & Avoi – A Collaboration.

It was March 2024 and the Team Spain group was growing. I was sat on a coach in Marrakesh talking to Denise Cudlipp during our Women’s inaugural international tournament appearance with the ‘originals’. Denise was telling me about her grandson, Oscar, and how the talented basketball player had a children’s cancer charity, Avoi, to thank for giving him the chance to not just live his best life but to live full stop.

The story was unusual in that the charity she spoke of so highly was not just there for the family in bad times but in all times. Once a child and their family have been touched by the hand of Avoi then the bond remains for life.

There is no pressure from Avoi to maintain a relationship once a child has completed their treatment and are fortunate enough to be allowed home. But the level of care, compassion and support given to families from Avoi builds a bond so strong that they become one big family.

The charity undertakes huge fundraising projects including week long walks to Santiago with over 100 people inc children and some in wheelchairs – a logistical challenge. More regular activities include arts and crafts at their base in Malaga which is just a ten minute walk to the hospital ward where children that have been cruelly afflicted with the illness are expertly treated by some of the worlds finest oncologists.

I visited the HQ with Dani, Denise’s daughter & Javi who is a teammate of mine at Malaga and whose daughter is also being treated for leukaemia at the same hospital. The storeroom is packed with materials to make badges, stickers, wristbands and anything that can raise awareness and funds. We arrived by special appointment and after hours otherwise the place would be a hive of activity.

The charity also holds a Christmas dinner & dance which is normally sold out three months in advance but hopefully we can generate enough interest to add a second night this year.

I hope the Avoi house is big enough to absorb Team Spain into it as we have a pool of around 100 players across four teams now!!

We look forward to our collaboration and I hope that it is a long and extremely prosperous one for the charity.

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