La Marató: A solidarity project that transforms lives

As a result of the participation of these people and the spirit of solidarity of the society as a whole, La Marató has become the televised charity event that raises the most money per capita worldwide. There is no doubt that this is only possible because of the involvement of companies, institutions, associations and all those anonymous people whose efforts and dedication both in times of crisis and prosperity, every year make it possible. 
 

La Marató: Much more than a charity event

La Marató is much more than a fundraising project. In addition to the television gala on 18 December, a number of activities are organised throughout the year that not only seek as many donations as possible, they also focus on providing information on and raising awareness about each year's theme.

Undoubtedly, La Marató is characterised by the passion shown by everyone in Catalonia, providing an energy without which it would not have been possible for this initiative to be undertaken for so long. Many of the people who participate start as donors who give money and end up participating more actively over the years. This is the case of Manuel Molera, who from being just a donor, went on to become a volunteer for the Associació Manresa per la Marató, a group consisting of several entities that organise complementary activities to promote this project as much as possible.

As he himself explains, one of the main activities they develop is called La cursa per la vida (the race for life), which began as a 5 km race in the centre of the city and now there are more than 11 km in three circuits: Walking, running and cycling.  

With regard to the informative spirit of La Marató, conferences are also organised with direct care professionals, patients and relatives to talk about the more human aspect of the disease. Another activity that deserves special mention is the famous tombola, one of the activities that gives more work to this group of volunteers, but the most effective when it comes to raising funds; and the collaboration with the Manresa basketball team, which allows them to sell tickets for the draw on the days when matches are played. 
 

Raising awareness, providing information and researching 

You could actually say that each edition of La Marató lasts eight years. First, it takes two years to choose the disease that will play the leading role. Then, throughout the following year, people are made aware of and sensitive to the pathology and funds are raised and this is when the second marathon begins, the scientific marathon. Four years during which the centre that benefits from the donation undertakes research and shares the progress it makes with the public. 

Josefina Castro Fornieles is the Manager of the Clinical Institute of Neurosciences at the Hospital Clínic in Barcelona. This institution has been a beneficiary of funds from La Marató on a number of occasions, and in the 2021 edition, focussed on mental health. Each time it involved her and the projects she manages. "As researchers we are very grateful because the money given by these people actually comes from their own pocket. They believe that this is important, that it is important to study this issue and they believe that we do not have sufficient means to be able to do the research which is why they give us their money, be it a little or a lot. And we also accept it together with a responsibility to think that this is something that really needs to be done, whatever the cost".