This Friday, World Cancer Day, the Association of Oncohematological Families of Lanzarote (AFOL), announced the awards of the "VI Short Story and Micro-Story Contest - Living with Cancer". An event that was held at the Agustín de la Hoz House of Culture.
The winners in the adult category were Roberto Tejera de León with the title "Reflections", who took the first prize valued at 400 euros and a diploma, the second prize with 200 euros and a diploma went to Idaira Hernández Betancort and her story "A Whisper to Life".
In the youth category, the first prize valued at 200 euros and a diploma went to Claudia García Villaverde with the story entitled "My Football Match", the second prize valued at 100 euros and a diploma went to Famara Umpierrez Miera with the story "I am braver than the Monster" and the accésit with diploma went to Aroa Fernández and the story "The Awakening".
Carmen Arrocha, president of the association, closed the event by congratulating the winners, thanking everyone for their collaboration and encouraging them to continue writing, to continue participating as it is a way to collaborate with AFOL and to trust in the possibilities they have to work on the story. Informing that the book of this "VI Contest" will be made, in paper and digital mode through the web LuLú.com.
Carmen Arrocha was in charge of welcoming the attendees, thanking the Councilor for Health of the Arrecife City Council, Echedey Eugenio, for giving the facilities of the House of Culture and supporting Culture within the social sphere, to Mª Dolores Novás Prieto, president of the Rotary Club of Lanzarote, for contributing not only the prizes of the contest, but the legacy of contributing to culture within the altruistic work that the Rotary have in Lanzarote, to the jury formed by Ico Toledo Perdomo, nurse and writer, who has seven published books to her credit, to Mª Jesús Alonso Morientes, social educator and tutor of the UNED Senior Program of Arrecife and to Tere Perera Brito, retired teacher and poet, "to them who without hesitation showed their support and gratitude to the AFOL proposal for the contest".
Arrocha explained in her speech that "After seeing the reality of the previous five contests and this one, we realize that the situation on the island, in the face of this disease, is still quite difficult despite advancing, very slowly. Commitment from everyone is needed to continue in the fight and these stories and micro-stories demonstrate this by being part of our lives. Therefore, we continue to propose, as an objective, to offer this writing space, where narration, expression, feelings, fears, laughter, strength, impotence, have the capacity to tell the essence that dwells in our being or imagination, creativity, which sometimes words prevent us from expressing without further ado. That makes us reflect and look for the reality of this disease to continue fighting and supporting it. In addition, to raise awareness among young people that the writing of a story can be as diverse as the author wishes, and its teaching, however difficult it may seem, makes us strong not to discriminate any area of life, because we have to be prepared for everything that may come".
Carmen valued very positively the collaboration of all, although this year in comparison with other contests less stories and micro-stories have participated, but more institutes have participated, thanking the teachers of the IES Tías, Altavista, Costa Teguise, Playa Honda and Blas Cabrera Felipe for encouraging students to write and participate.
