The Association of Families with Oncohematological Diseases of Lanzarote (AFOL) celebrated this Saturday the XIX charity dinner at the Casa-Museo Restaurante El Campesino, which was attended by about 400 people and the collection reached 14,000 euros.
The event began at 8:30 p.m. with welcome words from the president, Carmen Arrocha, tireless in each of the demands in relation to the deficiencies that remain to be achieved so that each of the cancer patients have the same means in technological and health advances as all those who reside in the capital islands and so that once and for all they are treated on their island of origin, Lanzarote.
Carmen encouraged all those present to continue insisting that "they will not silence us" until we achieve our objective, we continue contributing and supporting, at all times, their needs. "We look for the way and the means to obtain the resources they request; it is our commitment not to give up, because their tenacity and courage makes us stronger. We said last year that radiotherapy would soon be on our island, but we are still the same, as are the people who continue to govern us year after year, nothing changes, they don't care, they know that we will vote for them anyway. It is difficult for them to understand that united, resources for Lanzarote and La Graciosa are achieved sooner; having empathy, responsibility, knowledge of what those who may be by their side suffer and need, is difficult for them to assume, for some acronyms that if they/themselves, sometimes, do not know what it means. We cannot allow the institutions and mainly the Canary Government, the Ministry of Health, the Canary Health Service, Parliamentarians of Lanzarote and La Graciosa, not to be within the reach of everyone. We believe in a dignified and effective Public Health, but it seems that they are more interested in referring and supporting private health. Think about the economic situation of families, who do not have the same economic level. Therefore, AFOL does not understand that when we request the completion of Radiotherapy, the PET (Positron Emission Tomography), more oncologists, specialist doctors, doctors in primary care, speed in diagnostic tests, a specialized emergency protocol, more presence and less telephone, less bureaucracy, that is answered with rigor and efficiency, and above all, that the waiting list is a priority. Without it, the rest is impossible to do. Looking the other way, and doing absolutely nothing." From AFOL, we continue to advance in claiming, communicating and seeking solutions. We are available to try to solve everything that is in our hands, even if it costs and they do not pay attention."
After the president's greeting, the diners enjoyed a delicious dinner served with professionalism and mastery as usual in the Art, Culture and Tourism Centers of Lanzarote. After dinner, the diners enjoyed the performance of the Parranda Pal Porrón who also joined the cause selflessly encouraging with their songs getting many of those present to leave their seats to mark some dances to the sound of the parranderos rhythms. Performance that was very applauded with some other encore in between. As it has been usual, the draw of many gifts donated by the commercial firms that one more year wanted to contribute their grain of good sand was also carried out. With the words of gratitude from Carmen Arrocha, the XIX AFOL Charity Dinner was closed.