Emotion, memory, and hope intertwined this Tuesday afternoon at the Insular Theater "Víctor Fernández Gopar - El Salinero", the stage chosen by AFOL (Association of Oncohematological Families of Lanzarote), to commemorate its 25th Anniversary under the theme "25 years together building hope".
At 7:00 PM, a heartwarming event began, directed by Tomás Pérez Esaú, which brought together families, professionals, collaborators, and citizens in a meeting full of meaning. The evening opened with a musical performance by three students from the Insular Center for Musical Education of Lanzarote; Eduardo Borges Lázaro on violin, Darío Bellido Cabrera on clarinet, and Yeray Medeiros Blanco on piano. Their masterful performance, with a staging full of delicacy and talent, was widely applauded by the audience.
Immediately after, the president of AFOL, Carmen Arrocha Hernández, visibly moved and with a choked voice, took the stage. In a sincere and profoundly human speech, she thanked the attendees for their presence and highlighted the significance of accompanying [someone] on a day like this.
"Thank you for being here. For having chosen this afternoon, this theater, this cause. Because accompanying us today is not just any gesture: it is an act of solidarity, and that in Lanzarote, as you well know, has always meant a lot.
His words gave way to a tour through the history of the association, recalling its beginnings 25 years ago, when a group of families unexpectedly faced a reality for which no one is prepared:
Cancer does not warn, does not ask permission, does not understand ages or plans. And at that moment, what we had was very little: scarce resources, much uncertainty, and the shared pain of those who saw their loved ones suffer without knowing very well where to turn. From that pain, AFOL was born.
The president acknowledged the difficulty of summarizing a quarter of a century in a few words, underlining the importance of each person, entity, and solidarity gesture that has been part of the journey.
It is not easy to rebuild 25 years in a few words, because one always runs the risk of leaving someone out. That is why I want each of the people who are here this afternoon, and also those who could not come, to know they are part of this story. With all our appreciation, our affection, and our solidarity. Because they truly are.
AFOL's journey has not been without difficulties. Its beginnings, marked by uncertainty, posed a challenge for both families and institutions. However, collective commitment and the will not to walk alone have been key to its consolidation.
"The path has not been easy. There have been purposes and stumbles, but also the certainty that we are capable of building when we decide not to walk alone. And on this island, fortunately, we have always known how to walk accompanied."
Likewise, he wanted to recognize the involvement of all those people who have contributed to making the event and the daily work of the association possible.
"Everything you have seen this afternoon has been possible thanks to people who put their talent where we put our need. Technicians, artists, creators who, when we extended our hand to them, they shook it without thinking twice, working with dedication and discretion from day one.
The intervention concluded with a reflection that summarizes the spirit of the entity: "25 years together building hopes. Or perhaps, as we like to think at AFOL the beginning of what is yet to come".
The evening continued with the screening of patient testimonials, as well as messages of congratulations and support sent by medical professionals from different hospitals in Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. At a particularly significant moment, the association presented the silver badge to numerous collaborators, in recognition of their commitment and generosity.
The event continued with a dance piece performed by ten dancers under the direction of Professor Acerina H. Toledo, and culminated with the musical performance of Elvia Plata and Isabel Ojeda, accompanied by Israel Curbelo and Álex Jiménez, who put the finishing touch to a deeply emotional day.
A night that was a tribute, a reunion, and a celebration, but above all, a reminder of what AFOL has been and continues to be: a space of support, humanity, and shared hope. Twenty-five years later, the association continues to look to the future with the same conviction that saw it born; that of building hope, together.
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