The Cultural and Sports Association of Barcelona Firefighters organizes the VIII Barcelona Firefighters Solidarity Nautical Mile, which this year will raise funds for the Spanish Association of Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (AELAM). The aim is to continue advancing research to improve diagnosis and find a treatment for this rare disease that currently has no cure.
Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare disease of unknown origin and difficult to diagnose that mainly affects women of childbearing age. It is characterized by causing an abnormal growth of cells in the lungs, generating a pathology that destroys the organ with slow but continuous progression. There is no cure for LAM, but there is a drug called rapamycin that, in most cases, slows down the progress of the disease. If medication is unsuccessful, a full lung transplant must be used.
The AELAM Association supports LAM research led by Dr. Miquel Àngel Pujana, principal investigator of the Breast Cancer and LAM research group at IDIBELL, IDIBGI and the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO). “Our research seeks to identify biomarkers that facilitate the non-invasive diagnosis of this rare disease,” says Dr. Pujana, who adds: “in parallel, we are also investigating to find targeted therapies that allow LAM cells to be completely eliminated in patients.”
AELAM has been collaborating with this research group for nearly 10 years now: “We are deeply grateful for the AELAM Association’s continued support of our research in LAM. The involvement of patients in funding and their support for research are fundamental pillars that drive the translation of our discoveries into tangible advances in the cure of this disease,” says Dr. Pujana.
Four Mile Categories 2024
The VIII Barcelona Fire Brigade Solidarity Nautical Mile is a non-competitive water crossing that will be held on Sunday, June 30 at 10:00 a.m. on Bogatell Beach, next to the Nautical Base. Participants will be able to choose between four distances: Half Mile (926 meters), One Mile (1,852 meters), Two Miles (3,704 meters) and Three Miles (5,556 meters), with a maximum time of 2 hours to complete the route. Registrations can be made on the website of the Cultural and Sports Association of the Barcelona Fire Brigade: https://www.acebombersbcn.cat/viii-milla-nautica-solidaria-bombers-de-barcelona-2/
The registration fee is €15, with the funds raised going to the Spanish Association of Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (AELAM). At the end of the journey, there will be a raffle of material and experiences offered by the mile sponsors.