Atlético Madrid midfielder’s comeback from brain cancer and mother’s paralysis prompts T-shirts
Atlético Madrid midfielder’s comeback from brain cancer and mother’s paralysis prompts T-shirts
Article excerpt
Atlético Madrid midfielder David de Gea has joined a wave of other top footballers to donate their salaries to a group which helps children with brain disorders.
De Gea, who has been out of action with a right-sided knee injury since June 2007, joined goalkeeper Kike Medeiros, striker Rafael van der Vaart, midfielder Marcelo, left-back Raul Meireles, and midfielder Juan Pablo Ángel as the players from the Spanish international club went to help the Spanish Brain Tumour Association (EBA).
The first person to join the team in person at the charity’s headquarters was the EBA’s top manager, Dr. Hilario García, during an evening at the city’s Casa de la Plateros football academy, where the Atlético players have helped with a fundraising campaign which encourages donations in the shape of shirts worn by De Gea, Medeiros and Van der Vaart, which will be given to children with brain tumours.
The shirts, which are designed in collaboration with design house Aneko, have been sold out since the campaign began on August 27, with orders taking about a week to be ready. On Friday, a further 50 shirts were ordered by staff at Atlético’s headquarters in Madrid.
The players’ action follows the club’s new policy of supporting local projects, which became official in July, when Atlético became the first Spanish club to join the European Union’s “Big Society” strategy.
The club had previously used its shirt sponsorship to help “Invent the Future” – a campaign set up by Madrid-based entrepreneur Daniel Barroso, who works with young people to educate them about science, technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, and