Fashion show to benefit children with cancer at Alicante Hospital

The third edition of the Carlos Sarriá Charity Fashion Show will be held next Saturday, October 5th, and is now established as a consolidated event in the city in support of childhood cancer. This was announced on Monday at the presentation of the event, which took place at the Doctor Balmis General University Hospital.

This particular fashion show, promoted by the Hospital Pedagogical Unit (UPH) of the hospital and the Charlie Association, in collaboration with a dozen entities and personalities, will feature boys and girls undergoing treatment or follow-up in the Pediatric Oncology Unit of the Pediatric Service of the Alicante hospital. It will take place at the Puntapiedra restaurant in Alicante.

Around 60 boys and girls will become models for a day at this solidarity event that seeks to raise awareness about childhood cancer and pay tribute to children affected by this disease, taking the name of the Alicante influencer 'Charlie', who passed away two years ago.

The head of the Pediatric Oncology Section, Dr. María Tasso, acknowledged that "it is a satisfaction that our patients can enjoy such a special day where they become models for a day, demonstrating that despite the illness, they can do anything they set their minds to."

The coordinator of the UPH, Marisa Ibáñez, emphasized that this time, the proceeds will go towards enabling the children to walk part of the Camino de Santiago next spring, accompanied by volunteers from various associations, UPH staff and hospital staff, as well as their families.

The normalization of the lives of young students is an objective rooted in the very philosophy of the hospital classroom, a particular "school" that reminds them that "despite hospitalization causing anxiety and distress, their life goes on. Therefore, walking the Camino de Santiago is something that excites them greatly, both for the children and their parents," Ibáñez explained.

Zaira Ramón, one of UPH's students and a Pediatric Oncology patient who will walk next Saturday, accompanied them at the event. She spoke on behalf of all her classmates and acknowledged that thanks to this event they will be able to "fulfill the dream of going on an excursion together like one big family."

Rosa Conca, president of the Charlie Association and mother of Carlos Sarriá, explained that this year they are embarking on this special project called 'A Path of Courage', and therefore, the fashion show will allow funds to be raised "to make this trip possible so that the kids can have normalcy and have fun."

For his part, Dr. Javier González de Dios, head of Pediatrics Service, recalled the work done in the previous two editions of the fashion show to reach this point. "The Camino de Santiago is Europe's main cultural and spiritual route, and probably in the world. Taking these kids there means a lot; it represents uniting science and culture with spirituality and humanity. This is undoubtedly expressed today with Rosa Conca's presence and Carlos's memory. See you this Saturday; it will be a great day and we look forward to next year's fourth edition," he concluded.