On 27 July, Diputación de Málaga and Cudeca Hospice Foundation celebrated the 1st edition of the Joan Hunt Awards to recognise the contribution of the foreign population to the progress, social, economic and cultural development of the province of Málaga at the Edgar Neville Auditorium.

Diputación de Málaga created the Joan Hunt Awards in 2021 with the aim of keeping alive the memory and legacy of the pioneer of palliative care in Spain creating CUDECA Hospice in 1992, as well as recognising the important contribution of the foreign community in the province of Málaga.

The awards had been presented into different categories: Solidarity, Cultural, Business Work, Sabor a Málaga, Local Initiatives, Media and Diplomatic Work and had recognised figures such as Dr. Yusuf Hamied, the musician Chucho Valdés, the British Consul Charmaine Arbouin, the Town Council of Canillas de Albaida, Sur in English newspaper, Bodegas Bentomiz and Lumon.

At the ceremony, personalities with Diputación de Málaga were present such as Mr. Francisco Salado; Ms. Margarita del Cid, first vice-president; Ms. Natacha Rivas, second vice-president; Mr. Manuel Marmolejo, fourth vice-president; Mr. Francisco José Martín, deputy of Third Sector, and Mr. Francisco José Martín, deputy of Third Sector; Francisco José Martín, deputy for the Third Sector; and Ms. Esperanza González, deputy. Representatives of Cudeca Hospice Foundation were also present such as Mr. Ricardo Urdiales, president; Ms. Susan Hannam, vice-president; Dr. Marisa Martín, chief executive & medical director and Mr. Rafael Olalla, deputy chief executive & financial director.

Joan Hunt Solidarity Award to Dr. Yusuf K. Hamied

Yusuf K. Hamied is a renowned scientist, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Since his early days as chairman of CIPLA, an Indian generic pharmaceutical company, he has led large and successful projects such as the creation of an innovative combination of antiretroviral drugs for HIV and AIDS.

He has worked to alleviate the suffering of thousands of people in India, and around the world, who have no access to medical treatment. A connoisseur of the Palliative Care movement, he founded Cipla Palliative Care and Training Centre in Pune in 1997 and hence his immediate connection with the Cudeca project. In 2010, he and his wife Farida visited the Cudeca centre for the first time and, in Hamied's words, it was "love at first sight".

Yusuf K. Hamied is a great believer in education and research, which is why his collaboration with the foundation has resulted in the establishment of the Yusuf Hamied Centre, home to the Cudeca Foundation's Institute for Palliative Care Studies and Research in Benalmádena. He received the award from our Chief Executive & Medical Director, Dr. Marisa Martín.

Joan Hunt Media Award to Sur in English

With more than 38 years of experience, Sur in English has become the reference point for information aimed at English-speaking foreign residents and visitors in the south of Spain. It is also one of the companies that have collaborated with us since our beginnings in 1992.

The director of Diario Sur, Manuel Castillo, together with Rachel Haynes, collected the award from the fourth vice-president, Manuel Marmolejo and Cudeca´s vice-president, Susan Hannam.

Joan Hunt Cultural Award to pianist Chucho Valdés

Chucho Valdés, Cuban jazz pianist and winner of nine Grammy awards, has a long history of helping those most in need.

In 2006 he was declared FAO Goodwill Ambassador to the UN and in 2007 he participated as a guest artist in the first benefit concert of his father, Bebo Valdés, and also the first for Cudeca.

Since then, he has been an active supporter of the foundation. His sensitivity to Cudeca's work, his availability, his career and his international convening power have always been valued and recognised by the foundation with gestures such as the honorary appointment of Cudeca Ambassador.

Joan Junt Diplomatic Work Award to the British Consul, Charmaine Arbouin

e British Consulate not only looks after the interests and rights of the British in Malaga, but also acts as a link between the diplomatic relations of both countries. The British colony is very important for the Costa del Sol. It is the largest with 55,000 residents. The British Consul in Malaga, Charmaine Arbouin received the award from the First Vice-President, Margarita del Cid and Cudeca´s President, Ricardo Urdiales.

Joan Hunt Sabor a Málaga Award to Bentomiz Wineries

Bodegas Bentomiz, run by the Dutch couple Clara Verheij and André

Bodegas Bentomiz, run by Dutch couple, Clara Verheij and André Both began operations in 2003 in Sayalonga. It currently produces five varieties of wine: two sweet whites, a dry white made on lees, a sweet red and a dry red that takes advantage of the perfect adaptation to the terrain of the Romé grape, a native variety.

After years of hard work, they have managed to develop one of Malaga's most important wine companies. For their contribution to gastronomy, wealth, employment and the international image of the province, the winery and its founders received the Joan Hunt Award.

The owner, Clara Verheij receives the award from the hand of the Member of Parliament Esperanza González and Cudeca´s Deputy Chief Executive & Financial Director, Rafael Olalla.

Joan Hunt Local Initiative Award to the Town Hall of Canillas de Albaida

For many years Canillas de Albaida has had a large community of residents, mainly from Central Europe and Great Britain. This foreign population is fully integrated into the daily life of the municipality thanks to the work carried out by the Town Council, which offers a translation service to help with administrative procedures and information to all those who need it, and has given the municipal tourist office to a group of foreign volunteers who are in charge of its management in order to attract international tourists to the town.

In addition, foreign residents take an active part in the festivities. An example of this is the Friday night of the Feria in honour of the patron saint, the Virgen del Rosario, where local musicians of foreign origin perform.

Its mayor, Jorge Martín received the award, which was presented by Francisco José Martín, deputy for the Third Sector and the mayor of Benalmádena, Víctor Navas.

Joan Hunt Business Work Award to Lumon

The multinational Lumon manufactures resistant and long-lasting products using fully recyclable materials such as glass and aluminium. This respect for the environment is a fundamental part of its philosophy and is reflected in its processes, as it uses advanced programmes and sophisticated robots to avoid wasting materials in production, delivers surplus product to special recycling centres, uses packaging that optimises loading and minimises transport, and the glass it produces for terraces and porches reduces the need for heating, which translates into greater energy savings and lower CO2 emissions.

The Finnish company Lumon has a long-standing presence in the province of Malaga. The origin of the company in Malaga dates back to the time when a Malaga native and a Swedish woman thought that the product was suitable for the province. Since then, Malaga has become a very important centre of operations for Lumon on an international level. The second most important factory for Southern Europe has been set up in Antequera, employing more than 400 people. The target is to reach 2,000 jobs.

Its investment director, Pekka Oikarinen and the general manager in Spain, Javier Martínez received the award from the Diputación de Málaga second vice-president, Natacha Rivas and the mayor of Antequera, Manuel Barón.