Every two minutes, a child is diagnosed with cancer. And although 85% of these adolescents usually live for five years or longer after their diagnosis, cancer is still the second leading cause of death for children, with 100,000 kids dying from this illness every year. However, these grim statistics do not suggest that the situation cannot be improved. Research is being conducted at hospitals and centers around the world, and charitable donations are being made to support this cause. Here at ASB, a group of high school students gave up part of their weekends in order to contribute to the fight against children’s cancer and to raise funds for this movement.
On March 11th, 2023, secondary students from ASB traveled to the Centro de Convenciones Internacionales de Barcelona (CCIB) to serve as waiters at the Gala Inseparables dinner. This annual event, organized by the hospital Sant Joan de Déu, works to collect donations towards battling children’s cancer. The dinner, which started at 8 pm, lasted for several hours, during which doctors gave speeches, famous artists performed songs, and organizers showed presentations that taught the audience about ongoing cancer research. Meanwhile, the high schoolers served drinks to the audience, and made sure that everyone was satisfied. Most students really enjoyed the event, and look forward to participating in it next year given the opportunity. One of the volunteers explained that, “The process of being a waiter itself was really nice, and it was cool that we could raise help funds for an important cause.”
Aside from the speeches given by researchers and doctors on the topic of cancer, several famous celebrities came to participate in the event, further supporting the cause. One such individual was Rigoberta Bandini, a singer who is known for her song “Ay mamá”, which she performed on stage in support of all the mothers in the world. The guests definitely enjoyed the performance, as none of them had expected the pleasant surprise. After this composition, one of the cast members of Pretty Woman, a show currently being staged at Barcelona’s Teatre Apolo, sang the song “No hay vuelta atrás”, which was instantly recognized by the public. Finally, Carlos Baute, another well-known artist, performed two of his songs. The audience loved this act, with many joining in the fun by standing close to the stage and dancing with their friends and family members. The performance part of the event was definitely received well by the viewers, and contributed to the cheery atmosphere of the dinner.
In general, the Gala Inseparables dinner of 2023 was an immense success, with ASB students alone raising more than 6,000 euros for cancer research. Upon departing from the event, many students were left with fond impressions of the evening, telling anecdotes to their friends and chatting happily about the experience. Despite any initial nervousness, the participating ASB students truly made a difference. Overall, it is clear that both the students and the guests enjoyed the gala dinner, creating memories that will stay with them for a long time.
Bibliography:
“Key Statistics for Childhood Cancers.” Cancer.org, American Cancer Society, 12 Jan. 2021, www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-in-children/key-statistics.html.