The Spanish Association Against Cancer inaugurates its headquarters in Estepona in premises provided by the City Council.

In this center, patients receive psychological care, physiotherapy and social care, as well as relaxation, dance, sewing and handicraft workshops.

The mayor of Estepona, José María García Urbano, has been in charge of cutting the ribbon in a ceremony attended by the delegate of Health of the Andalusian Government in Malaga, Carlos Bautista.

The Spanish Association Against Cancer in Estepona today opened its new headquarters, located at Calle Terraza number 170, in premises provided by the City Council. The mayor of Estepona, José María García Urbano, has been in charge of cutting the ribbon in a ceremony which was also attended by the delegate of Health and Trade of the Andalusian Government in Malaga, Carlos Bautista, as well as representatives of the association and other social groups.

Just over a year ago, the council gave the premises so that the Spanish Association Against Cancer could offer a closer and more personalized service to cancer patients in the city and nearby towns. During this time, the facilities have undergone an adaptation and the implementation of new services. Although during this time the headquarters has been operating one hundred percent with its volunteers, it is now when they can count on a multipurpose room for activities and workshops, and professionals have their offices to provide psychological care and physiotherapy service.

The mayor of Estepona, José María García Urbano, recalled that the work done by social groups is essential in the municipality. “For this council is a priority social care to our neighbors and from the first moment we showed receptivity to the project that we raised from the Spanish Association Against Cancer to open a headquarters in our city. Therefore, we gave free of charge a local located in the center, in the upper area of Terraza Street, where all services are already being offered. I want to congratulate the entire team of the AECC in Estepona for the work they do with both patients and their families. Through the new headquarters they offer important services ranging from psychological care to physiotherapy, through many other activities, so I appeal to the collaboration of all so that this association can continue to invest in research and services”.

The event was attended by the president of the Local Board, Julia Crespo, who was accompanied by her vice-president, Elvira Conde, and a large group of volunteers; the provincial president, Joaquín Morales; the provincial manager, Carmen Litrán; along with a large representation of the Provincial Council of the Spanish Association Against Cancer and presidents and presidents of other local branches of the province.

Also present were Salome Hidalgo, delegate of the area of Municipal Care of the Provincial Council; Jose Manuel Fernandez, mayor of Manilva; Maria Aguilar, Councillor for Citizen Participation of the City of Estepona; and Fina Gomez, Councillor for Health of the City of Manilva. From the social groups of the municipality have accompanied Red Cross Estepona, Unicef Estepona and the Volunteer Platform of Estepona.

In her words of welcome, the local president of Estepona, Julia Crespo, stressed how important it is to have a headquarters in the municipality. “We have been working for a long time for the cancer patients of Estepona. This headquarters allows us to be able to settle all the services we already offer and, at the same time, think about providing new ones to improve the welfare of cancer patients and their families. We want them to see this center as a place where they can meet, share experiences and carry out activities that will help them in their cancer process. We are very grateful to the Estepona City Council because our goal is to continue growing to help more and more”.

For his part, Joaquín Morales, provincial president of the Spanish Association Against Cancer in Malaga has pointed out that with the inauguration of the Estepona headquarters the Spanish Association Against Cancer is further consolidated as the reference entity in the fight against cancer in Spain and also in the province of Malaga. “Today is an important day for the association because it allows us to announce that in the entire coast of Malaga, from Nerja to Estepona, we already have ten sites that serve cancer patients. If we look inland, we are also present in Ronda, Antequera and in three municipalities of the Guadalhorce Valley. This makes us the reference entity in cancer prevention, patient support and the promotion of oncology research. This new headquarters, inaugurated today, brings us one step closer to our great objective of reaching 70% average survival rate in cancer by 2030”.

The inauguration ceremony concluded with the ringing of ‘the bell of joy’ by Juan Ordóñez and Caroline Sice, two cancer patients who wanted to share the good news of their treatments on such an important day for the Spanish Association Against Cancer in Estepona.

The activity data of the Estepona branch are very significant in terms of care for patients and their families. During the year 2023, 34 patients who requested psychological help and who needed 199 sessions were attended. In social care, there were 16 patients and 23 sessions. And in physiotherapy, 18 patients were offered 114 sessions. Also noteworthy is the accompaniment provided by volunteers, both in hospital and at home, to cancer patients, and the handicrafts, sewing, relaxation and dance workshops held at the center.

In the near future, the intention is to start with a smoking cessation course and with the transfer of patients from their homes to the hospitals where they have to receive treatment. All those who wish to collaborate with the Spanish Association Against Cancer, by becoming members or volunteers, can do so by calling toll free 900 100 036.