Among the different types of initiatives to promote sport from a solidarity perspective, two Barça supporters’ clubs coincided in the same last weekend. They were the Penya Blaugrana de Sant Cugat (Federació Vallès) and the Penya del Barça Thessaloniki (FCB World Federation). Both tested the shooting accuracy of their supporters, and anyone else who wanted to take part, in their respective free kicks tournaments.
3rd edition of “Marca-li un Gol a l’Alzheimer”
The PB Sant Cugat held last Saturday the 3rd edition of its initiative “Marca-li un Gol a l’Alzheimer” (Score a goal against Alzheimer’s), which is co-organised with the Association of Alzheimer’s Families of Vallès Occidental. The event took place at the Can Magí Municipal Football Field, where participants acquired a ticket that allowed them to take two penalties against the goalkeepers of the PB Sant Cugat teams; if they scored both, they could take two more. The total proceeds, which exceeded 500 euros, went entirely to the Association of Alzheimer’s Families in Vallès Occidental. The supporters’ club also raffled an FC Barcelona shirt among all the participants.
The event was attended by Josep Maria Félez, president of the Penya Blaugrana of Sant Cugat; Josep Maria Vallès, mayor of Sant Cugat del Vallès; Núria Fernández, councillor for Health, Volunteering and Language Policy; and Anna Fitó, president of the Association of Alzheimer’s Families of Vallès Occidental. The Penya Barcelonista de Sant Andreu de la Barca (Federació Baix Llobregat), which has been twinned with the PB Sant Cugat for almost a year, was also present.
3rd Free Kick Contest in Thessaloniki
Last Sunday, the Greek city of Thessaloniki also brought together young and old to shoot at goal for a good cause. It was the 3rd Free Kick Contest organised by the Penya del Barça Thessaloniki together with Inter Club Greece, a fan club of Inter Milan with whom they have a very good relationship. The competition took place in a central square in Thessaloniki and was divided into two categories, one for 8 to 15 year olds and the other for over 16 year olds, with important prizes for the winners and the distribution of Barça merchandising. The event was attended by Luciano de Souza, former player of teams such as Olympiacos and PAOK Thessaloniki.
Two weeks before, the Penya del Barça Thessaloniki and Inter Club Greece had organised the same event in the town of Serres, near Thessaloniki, where there was also a great success of participation. In both cases, the organising entities destined part of the proceeds of the registrations to an institution that deals with children with autism, thus demonstrating their spirit of solidarity with the most needy.
