Spain hosts a pioneering day centre for children with cancer

New project will transform the lives and outlook of children in Spain with cancer. Casa Aladina is the first comprehensive day center in Spain dedicated to cancer patients and their families. 

The Aladina Foundation is building it. They support more than 1,500 kids and their families every year in 22 hospitals all over Spain. Casa Aladina addresses not just the medical aspects, but also the psychological, emotional and social needs associated with a child’s cancer diagnosis. This includes the entire family.

Casa Aladina offers a wide range of services

The centre, located in Madrid’s Hortaleza area, is surrounded by lush greenery. Inside, families and children will enjoy a warm, supportive environment. The facilities will include:

• Arts, music, cinema and play areas
• Specially adapted gym with sports and rehabilitation facilities
• Indoor and outdoor pools are available for aquatic therapy
• A therapeutic garden and a vegetable patch are available, as well as outdoor areas where activities like golfing or animal-assisted therapies can be performed.
• Support for families, community building activities, and psychological support
• Weekend camps in cabins offer children a respite from hospital life, and the chance to share childhood memories with other children facing similar challenges.

Casa Aladina is free for all children and families who are undergoing treatment or have survived a loss of a child. It offers grief support, long-term care and comfort during these difficult times. 

Casa Aladina Christmas Appeal: Support Casa Aladina

Pieza a Pieza is a new fundraising campaign by the Aladina Foundation. The campaign features children supported by the foundation, Jorge, Martina, Guille, Cristina, Raúl, and Ian, giving a voice to this cause.

The campaign asks its supporters to buy Lego bricks to represent their contributions to the building of the center. The charity encourages people to buy brick packs starting at 10 euros per four bricks as Christmas gifts. The campaign challenges the fact that in Spain more money is spent on toys and less on children’s charities.

A spokesperson said that “every donation, however small, brings the project closer to reality”. Supporters can purchase bricks here Share the #CasaAladina campaign on social media to help raise awareness of the project.

Casa Aladina – Why is it so Important?

Cancer diagnosis is a stressful time for many families. It can lead to long-term treatment and frequent hospitalizations. There may also be social isolation or emotional strain. Casa Aladina believes that healing is not just about medicine, but also care, community, and companionship. The foundation stresses that cancer can affect not only the child, but also their parents, siblings and grandparents. Aladina’s holistic model of care provides emotional support, psychotherapy, and material help to all family members.

Casa Aladina offers children the opportunity to be kids again. They can play, relax, reconnect with peers that understand their journey and regain normality. The centre is a safe place for parents and children to come and share their experiences, get support and find a new sense of normality.

Casa Aladina provides long-term assistance to survivors, who often suffer lifelong side effects as a result of their treatment. For families who lost a child the foundation provides companionship and helps them navigate their grief. It’s a place for healing, and not just physical.