The #SiempreFuerte Awards always triumph
The five winners in the sixth edition of the MCF Foundation’s gala were recognised at the gala held yesterday at Museo Picasso Málaga. The winners, who received the work of artist, Andrés Mérida in an act that featured a musical performance by Dry Martina
The MCF Foundation’s VI Siempre Fuerte Awards revealed the winners of the 2023 edition. Yesterday afternoon, in the annual tribute to the figure and legacy of Pablo Ráez, the Picasso Museum recognised the admirable work of the five winners. The event included a musical performance by Dry Martina and the best kept secret of every gala was discovered: the painting in tribute to Pablo Ráez, this time by artist, Andrés Mérida.
In the 2022 Social Entity Award category, Teléfono de la Esperanza de Málaga, Asociación Española contra el Cáncer en Málaga and Asociación Superhéroes: un Niño, una Sonrisa were the winners. The recipient of the Abdallah Ben Barek Award was CD Flamencos Amputados Sur. The last recognition was for Javier Imbroda, posthumously, who was awarded the #SiempreFuerte Special Award.
Juan Sánchez, president of Teléfono de la Esperanza de Málaga received the first 2022 Social Entity Award from Luis Merino, president of Fundación El Pimpi, and Salvador Ávila, director of Limasa.
The representative of the association wanted to dedicate this achievement “to all those people who come to us or phone us every day, to make their lives a little happier in their situations of crisis and improve their emotional health, that’s what we’re here for.” As well as “all the volunteers of the Teléfono de la Esperanza, who with that attitude of generosity and altruism 365 days a year and 24 hours a day, are willing to give their all.” He ended his speech on the stage of the Museo Picasso Málaga Auditorium with this emotional reflection: “Sport, volunteering and Pablo Ráez’s fighting spirit are values that this society needs. If we get closer to them, we’ll improve as people and we will be a much stronger society, capable of making this world a little happier.”
The second 2022 Social Entity Award was for Asociación Española contra el Cáncer en Málaga, collected by its provincial manager Pedro González, presented by Guillermo Peiró, manager of the Museo Picasso Málaga.
The AECC spokesperson at the event commented: “Whenever I see Pablo's gesture, I think he has three things. One is a cry of encouragement, another the will to never give up, and the third is hope for all those people who are fighting cancer. We remain ‘Siempre Fuerte’ against cancer.”
The Asociación Superhéroes: un Niño, una Sonrisa was awarded the final 2022 Social Entity Award, making a great entrance to the Auditorium of the Museo Picasso Málaga playing the song of The Avengers.
Spiderman, Flash, Wonder Woman, Supergirl, Batman and Superman received the award, presented by Ignacio Bárbulo, commercial director of Cervezas San Miguel.
Spiderman, speaking on behalf of the entire Asociación Superhéroes: un Niño, una Sonrisa, highlighted the importance of “their excited faces” as “some have been in bed for a week and unable to get up. When their parents say: 'what the doctors have not achieved, the Superheroes have', says it all,” he stated.
The Abdallah Ben Barek Award went to CD Flamencos Amputados Sur, received by president and coach Manuel Pacheco, together with the player Pedro Aragonés. Málaga CF adviser, after whom the award is named, Abdallah Ben Barek, was in charge of its presentation.
“We feel overwhelmed and responsible, but it is also a force, it gives us more courage to continue moving forward,” said Manuel Pacheco about this recognition. “We try to ensure that any athlete with any physical limitation due to amputation has a space to play football and feel fully fulfilled,” he added.
The most emotional moment during the prizegiving was the last one, the presentation of the #SiempreFuerte Special Award, posthumously for Javier Imbroda. The projected video moved everyone present at the Museo Picasso Málaga, with words from his widow Salvadora Acosta, and his children, the musicians JavyPablo, dedicating a song to him.
Blas Imbroda, the brother of Javier Imbroda, received the award from José María Muñoz, Málaga CF’s judicial administrator; Francisco Martín Aguilar, adviser of the Entity, and Rosa Martínez, Pablo Ráez’s mother.
“Javier was #SiempreFuerte until the last minute, he continues to be strong, and he transfers that strength to us from heaven. He loved life, he always fought with great enthusiasm, with a smile, believing in principles and values, combining education with sport as it was necessary to contribute to making a better world,” Blas Imbroda said of his brother.
The VI #SiempreFuerte Awards were a complete success, once again highlighting the life lessons of Pablo Ráez.