The Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, presented the 2024 solidarity calendar of the Guardia Civil, which in this edition raises funds for the European Association against Leukodystrophies – ELA España (ALS Spain), in an event held at the Infanta María College Residence Teresa of Madrid in which he was accompanied by the general director of the body, Leonardo Marcos.
Leukodystrophies are a group of diseases characterized by the progressive degeneration of the white matter of the brain due to the imperfect growth or development of the myelin sheath, the fatty layer that acts as an insulator around nerve fibres. Currently in Spain there are about 4,000 people who suffer from this condition, which is why it is considered a ‘rare disease’.
In his speech during the presentation of the calendar, the Minister of the Interior praised the work carried out by ELA España in support of families affected by leukodystrophies, and highlighted “its contribution to the creation of a European data bank and the maintenance of a European fund for medical research on this disease.”
“You are a magnificent example of the power and drive of what we call ‘civil society’, which in the case of the Spanish society makes us all feel very proud of our country,” Grande-Marlaska conveyed to the members of the association, whom he has described as “civil heroes of a society that would be much worse if it were not for people like you.”
For his part, the general director of the Guardia Civil has expressed pride in this solidarity initiative, which has been consolidated over time and reaches its ninth consecutive edition. “With this solidarity calendar we want to contribute our grain of sand to the necessary work that ELA España carries out in favour of those affected by leukodystrophies and their families,” indicated Marcos.
Nine editions
This non-profit association, created in 2001, raises awareness of these types of low-prevalence diseases that do not have the necessary visibility and resources to allow better care for the people who suffer from them.
Now on sale, the 2024 solidarity calendar of the Guardia Civil can be purchased at the price of five euro and the proceeds obtained will be delivered to ELA España to finance its programs to promote research on leukodystrophies and to support and sustain the families, some of whose members suffer from this disease.
People affected by leukodystrophy have participated in the preparation of the calendar along with members of the Guardia Civil belonging to units such as Citizen Security, Rapid Action Unit (UEI), Air Service, Cynological Service (dogs), Group of Specialists in Underwater Activities (GEAS), Explosives Deactivation Service (SEDEX), Reserve and Security Group (GRS), Fiscal and Border Service, the Traffic Group, Seprona (environment), telecommunications and the Music Unit.
In the seven previous editions, the Guardia Civil’s solidarity calendar raised funds for the Down Madrid foundation, the Juegaterapia foundation, the Rosa del Desierto organisation, the Toledo Paraplegic Hospital foundation (where officers injured in the line of duty are also treated), the Debra-Piel de Mariposa association, the Federation Spanish Food Banks (FESBAL), the Sports Federation for People with Intellectual Disabilities of Castilla-La Mancha (FECAM) and the Mi Princesa Rett association. Each year sales have exceeded 20,000 copies of each of the calendars produced.
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