What made you think, “This is the project I want to submit”?
The combination of three things that do not usually converge: a real and very difficult medical need for patients and their families, a serious and well-structured scientific project and a small foundation that devotes almost all of its income to their cause, in such a way that the donation can lead to concrete results.
Is there any personal or close experience that especially connects you to this cause?
My familiarity with the disease and the fact that I collaborate with it. I came into contact with FN a little over 7 years ago, when they were just starting out, and I have grown with them throughout this time. What impressed me most was how an organisation born from the families themselves, driven by pure volunteer work and the goodwill of individual people, had managed to put together top-level scientific research projects at an international level.
If you had to explain to someone what this organisation does and why it’s so essential, what would you say?
I would say that Fundación Noelia exists so that a rare and devastating disease ceases to be invisible and a window of hope opens for patients and families who, to this day, lack alternatives. It funds and coordinates research projects to find real treatments, when otherwise that research would not be a priority. It is necessary because, without such organisations, many rare diseases would simply not be dealt with.
What has it meant to you to be able to promote this cause from within INIBSA?
It has meant being able to connect the company's values with a concrete action. Not just talking about commitment, but also exercising it. Knowing that INIBSA can help keep a line of research alive and give hope to real people gives a lot of meaning to this type of initiative.
How did you react when you found out your project was one of the winners?
With great satisfaction, but above all with the feeling that the company aligns with my own values. It is not just about winning, but about contributing to the funding of a cause that depends entirely on this type of initiative to move forward.
What has this project personally given you?
It has reminded me that the sum of small contributions, each insufficient in itself, when brought together, done well and in the right context, can have a huge impact. Knowing that this small contribution helps science advance one step further is very rewarding.
After this experience, has it changed the way you see the impact we can create together?
It reinforces the idea that when a company and a social entity work together with respect and clarity of objectives, the impact is multiplied. It is not just about donating, but about understanding what you are supporting and why.
What would you say to your colleagues to encourage them to participate in future editions of INIBSA’s Donation Contest?
Look at projects with both discernment and heart. Behind every proposal are real people and, in many cases, unique opportunities to change lives. Participating is not just about proposing a project; it is about being part of something that goes far beyond our daily lives.
