WFS News

Today we were visited by Dani selling raffle tickets for Avoi Childrens Cancer Charity

Dani’s own son Oscar now 17 had a brain tumour when he was 9 and Avoi were their for Oscar and his family and Dani now wants to do everything to help them.

As a club we have donated €100 and bought over €160 in raffle tickets today

Here’s her story written by Mark from Spain Walking Football

It was March 2024 and the I was sat on a coach in Marrakesh talking to Denise Cudlipp during our Women’s inaugural international tournament.

Denise was telling me about her grandson, Oscar, and how the talented basketball player had a children’s cancer charity, Avoi, to thank for giving him the chance to not just live his best life but to live full stop.

The story was unusual in that the charity she spoke of so highly was not just there for the family in bad times but in all times. Once a child and their family have been touched by the hand of Avoi then the bond remains for life.

The charity undertakes huge fundraising projects including week long walks to Santiago with over 100 people inc children and some in wheelchairs – a logistical challenge. More regular activities include arts and crafts at their base in Malaga which is just a ten minute walk to the hospital ward where children that have been cruelly afflicted with the illness are expertly treated by some of the worlds finest oncologists.

I visited the HQ with Dani, Denise’s daughter & Javi who is a teammate of mine at Malaga and whose daughter is also being treated for leukaemia at the same hospital. The storeroom is packed with materials to make badges, stickers, wristbands and anything that can raise awareness and funds. We arrived by special appointment and after hours otherwise the place would be a hive of activity.

The charity also holds a Christmas dinner & dance which is normally sold out three months in advance.

Dani’s Story

In September 2018 Oscar at age 9 was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour, at our journey in the fantastic materno hospital in Málaga we met AVOI a volunteer group on the oncology ward at the hospital, AVOI instantly became a massive part of our lives for the months that we lived on the ward. I can say that if it wasn’t for these volunteers our stay wouldn’t have been as bearable, they are there day to day for the whole family with things to do for the children ie. Games, arts and crafts, puzzles, playstation.

I can honestly say that our time spent in the hospital was helped massively by them and will always be thankful and now it’s my turn to help AVOI help other families.

More information about AVOI is available at this website https://www.avoi.es/socios