Bookmarks for cancer research
BarcelonaWith the arrival of spring, the campaign also returns We turn the pageIt is very close to becoming a classic, just like the news about the chocolate monkeys –which will soon be released– or the time change, which even gives its title to a book by Sergi Pàmies, At two it will be three (Cream Notebooks). If you haven't heard about it yet, it may be because I've exaggerated a bit: I've been overcome with enthusiasm. Okay, it's not (yet) a huge media event, but I think it's an important campaign, one that deserves its place in the calendar, because few things are as beautiful, well-crafted, and meaningful as this one.
It all began in 2019 when Olga Federico, from The Impossible bookstore, feels that she wants to give back to the public health system a part of what it has done for her when she suffered from cancer.Erico del Arco, from Documenta and president of the Gremi de Llibreters (Bookmakers' Guild), immediately signed up, and everything at Hospital Clínic was enthusiastic and helpful. Together, they invented the charity initiative. We turn the page, which combines a passion for reading with the fight against cancer. Bookmarks and bags will be sold in bookstores, and the proceeds will go to cancer immunotherapy research. Many publishing houses are also involved: it's the first time the sector has mobilized for a cause like this. They have everything ready, but the pandemic puts it in motion. No problem, they'll come back next year, and the next, and the next, and the next, which is now this one.
The road has tested them, because over the years they've organized and grown a lot. Now the Collserola Foundation is also involved, and this has been decisive in getting schools to participate. The dynamics of the campaign are very simple: just go to one of the bookstores participating in the initiative and ask for one of the bookmarks designed by Natalia Pàmies, featuring drawings of the Cristina LosantosRead a book, any one you like; you don't need to buy one for the occasion (although, what a great reason to expand your library!). When you're finished, write your review on the bookmark and return to the bookstore. If you're too lazy to go back and forth, you can also do so through their website. For each review received, sponsors will contribute 20 euros, which the Clínic will transform into research time: 1 book read is equivalent to 10 minutes of research.
Last year was the first year in which schools and institutes participated in the initiative. I presented the closing ceremony, held in the Auditorium of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. 300 children and young people had contributed to the campaign and were eagerly awaiting the announcement: we needed to know if the goal of 6,000 reviews, equivalent to 1,000 hours of cancer research, had been reached. Before finding out, they were able to ask questions to two doctors, a researcher, and a nurse from the Clínic, and it was fantastic to see how they had become aware of the importance of research by getting involved in the initiative. There were nerves, I assure you. Silence, drum music, and... an explosion of joy! 6,435 reviews received, equivalent to 1,073 hours of cancer research. Goosebumps, you can't imagine the excitement in the room. I hope we can repeat such a special moment this year: sign up, the challenge has been raised to 2,000 hours of research and they need us all (they also accept donations, by the way). Only until April 23rd, don't sleep!
