José Miguel Mateo with the Unstoppable Campaign

Last Saturday, June 18, the Josep Carreras Foundation's IMPARABLES campaign took place to mark Leukemia Awareness Week, in which our colleague José Miguel Mateo actively participated.

This year, 654 patients, former patients, and their families from all over Spain took to the streets on June 18 in various towns to share their stories with the public and draw attention to a new research project for which they hope to raise at least €150,000 through SMS messages with the word IMPARABLES to 28027 (cost of the SMS: €1.20. Full donation. Available for Movistar, Orange, Vodafone, and Yoigo Spain mobile phones).

According to a press release, cases in the United States have begun to be treated using immunotherapy-based techniques (called CAR T cells) and the results are very promising. After the first clinical trials, 85% of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and up to 50% of patients with aggressive who did not respond to any treatment are in complete remission. We need to have the infrastructure and resources in place so that we can also develop these innovative and effective therapies. "Currently, there is no hospital in Spain that carries out this treatment on a regular basis," they add.

To advance research, a machine is needed that helps reproduce large quantities of these powerful cells in maximum safety conditions, so that people who do not currently have a treatment option can have that opportunity. And not only in cases of leukemia, but also other malignant blood diseases such as lymphomas, multiple myeloma... This machine costs €150,000 and, given its importance, is the foundation's new major challenge.