Today, the presentation of the 2018 Report of the Medical Teams´ Home Care Programmes, Training & Research, Volunteering and Economic Results of the Cudeca Cancer Care Hospice took place at the Cudeca Palliative Care Centre in Benalmádena, with their motto: "We grow to give an answer”.

Susan Hannam, Vice-President of Cudeca Hospice, opened the presentation with a huge thank you to the attendees as well as to all who have made it possible for CUDECA to care for over 15,000 patients and their family, completely free of charge.

Dr. María Luisa Martín, Chief Executive and Medical Director, explained the results obtained during 2018 focusing on one main concept: "CUDECA has grown to give an answer, not only to meet the demand for care, but to improve and advance our work through training and research”. This year, apart from presenting the results of CUDECA's Home Care Programmes (which have attended a total of 1,402 patients and more than 2,400 relatives), she confirmed that the Training and Research Centre project (having laid the first stone on 27 July), continues developing thanks to the incredible donation of Dr. Hamied.

The Chief Executive also commented, "After 26 years, the Cudeca Hospice is today a benchmark in the field of Palliative Care in our country, also forming an active part of the international community of professionals determined to promote and improve care at the end of life through training and research. As a result of this activity, CUDECA, together with the University of Malaga, inaugurated the third edition of its Own Master's Degree in Palliative Care and was selected by the Biomedical Research Institute of Malaga, IBIMA, the first external associated group. Two fundamental alliances to promote a new challenge, the Institute for Studies and Research in Palliative Care".

Finally, she once again highlighted the essential value of the faithful and committed support of Malaga society as co-responsible with CUDECA to ensure that, at the end of life, we all have ensured care and a competent, compassionate and dignified accompaniment.

Rafael Olalla, Deputy Chief Executive & Financial Director, reported on the financial results: "2018 has been a positive year in economic terms. Despite the increase in healthcare costs due to the unstoppable rise in the number of patients treated, we have achieved sufficient income to almost cover costs". The Deputy Chief Executive continues: "The society of Malaga as a whole continues to support us very generously: patient families, donors, partners, volunteers, companies, institutions… all of them contribute their bit and we manage to get ahead with the annual budget, which already exceeds 4 million euros". He also highlighted the implementation of the training project, "which represents a new and exciting entrepreneurial challenge for this foundation and for which we hope will become, in a few years, another source of funding for the Foundation´s cause”.

Every year, CUDECA wants to recognize the charity work and the commitment with its mission granting its Cudeca Pin to personalities or entities of the Spanish and foreign community. The Cudeca Pin presented to the Spanish community has been given to the Vithas Xanit International Hospital. Since the inauguration of the Hospitalization Unit of the Cudeca Hospice, Vithas Xanit has been an essential support to be able to offer medical attention 24 hours a day 365 days a year. At the act was present Dr. Consuelo García, Quality Director, representing the Vithas Xanit International Hospital to receive the award. The Cudeca Pin for the recognition of the foreign community was presented to Mr. Sandro Morelli, owner of the Villa Tiberio Restaurant in Marbella, with gratitude for the support received and the funds raised by him and his team in every celebration of his charity galas since 2011. Mr Sandro Morelli has raised over €160,000 in his 9 charity galas to help the Cudeca Hospice.

Numerous representatives of public institutions, as well as companies, organizations, friends and collaborators attended the act, including the Theatre British Company A Touch of Class, Ace Bridge Club Fuengirola, Care from Contraband, Santa María Golf Club, Lions Club from Torremolinos & Torremolinos Suomi; Cudeca Goldies, Good companions, La Cala Golf Hotel Spa & Members Spanish Insight Magazine, Talk Radio Europe, The American Club of the Costa del Sol  and The Marbella Bridge Club