Cars for Smiles in Madrid – November 24, 2024

CARS FOR SMILES CELEBRATES ITS 6TH EDITION IN MADRID AND OFFERS AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE

FOR TEENAGERS CO-DRIVING SUPERCARS AT THE JARAMA CIRCUIT

The event took place last Sunday, November 24, 2024, and gathered at the Hotel Puerta de América some 300 people around high-end sports cars.

Cars for Smiles (C4S) is an altruistic project that provides support, illusion and a unique experience to young people who are under treatment for serious or chronic diseases.

C4S is a non-profit solidarity movement that celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

It was born in Barcelona with the aim of bringing joy and motivation to teenagers with serious illnesses / disabilities or in complicated living conditions, which recently celebrated in Madrid, with the support of the Jarama Circuit, its sixth edition.

Thanks to the efforts and dedication of the C4S Madrid team formed by Irene Batanero, Margarita Martínez, Javier García, Pablo Melero, Jorge Suarez, Bernardo Trigo and Nicolas Aymerich, along with a cast of collaborators, C4S has been able to carry out its sixth edition. A very special thanks for the magnificent contributions and work done from @hoymatriculado, Nicolas Gómez and Juan Temiño.

The event brought together about 50 “co-drivers” (children and teenagers) and as many drivers, mostly owners of exclusive vehicles of mythical brands such as Alpine, Aston Martin, Bentley, Maserati, BMW M, Ferrari, Mercedes Benz AMG, McLaren, Jaguar, Ford, Porsche, Lotus or Toyota GR, along with other electrified models such as the Polestar (3 and 4) and the Porsche Macan. They were joined by their families, volunteers and managers of the companies sponsoring and supporting the event.

The opening ceremony took place at the emblematic Hotel Puerta de América, where the participants were cordially welcomed to begin the accreditation process. The first surprise for the co-drivers was the delivery of some gifts, among which was a T-shirt of the Spanish National Motorsport Team of the FIA Motorsport Games Spain team, offered by the Royal Spanish Automobile Federation (RFEDA).

The second surprise was the presence of the Astara team car, which was undoubtedly a real attraction for all attendees who were able to enjoy the feeling of being behind the wheel of such a machine.

Jorge Suarez from C4S was in charge of explaining to the participants what awaited them that day. For his part, the president of C4S, Martijn Elvers, briefly explained the origin of the Association and its evolution in these first 10 years of existence, highlighting that the entire team that makes up C4S is composed of 100% volunteers.

After this welcome, emotions rose even higher with the projection of a video that included messages of encouragement and support from prominent personalities of the motor world. Among them, Mr. Manuel Aviñó (president of the RFEDA), Albert Llovera (Dakar Rally drivers) and Luis Moya (rally co-driver), who offered words of encouragement to the young participants.

The Dakar car on display had not come alone, its driver Oscar Fuertes (Dakar Rally Team Astara driver) had joined the event. Oscar kindly came to the stage with his two sons, Oscar and Hugo, and also, the young driver Diego Martinez (silver medal in Junior Cross Car in FMG of Valencia), all this from the priceless hand of the RFEDA.

A very special thanks to all of them for their collaboration!

Afterwards, representatives and doctors from the different hospitals explained the progress and advances of the winning projects of the C4S Madrid 2023 edition.

Then came the most awaited moment for the co-drivers: the assignment of teams.

Each co-driver was paired with a vehicle and its owner, forming teams that would remain together for the rest of the activities. Up to this point they had not seen the vehicles because they were in the parking lot below the hotel, fully reserved for C4S cars. As the teams began to arrive at their cars, the sound of the engines starting was spectacular. The cars went around the Hotel Puerta de America to line up at Corazon de Maria street where the Guardia Civil was waiting to escort us in a thrilling transfer to the Jarama Circuit.

The young co-drivers had the opportunity to experience the adrenaline of speed and the thrill of touring the circuit from the inside. The car owners received instructions on the circuit layout through a briefing prior to the on-track activity where C4S secretary Nicolas Aymerich announced that the co-drivers could win their racing license specially prepared and customized by the RFEDA.

After the activities on the track, they returned escorted by the Guardia Civil to the Hotel Puerta de America where they all enjoyed a buffet lunch.

Jorge started the afternoon by announcing that all the co-drivers had “passed their exam” and, therefore, achieved the official driver’s license issued by the RFEDA. After the moment of the distribution of the licenses, the closing of the event continued by revealing the amount raised and the winning projects.

The purpose of C4S has always been to create illusion and smiles to these young people, as well as, to provide support to their families and the people who, within the hospital institutions, are dedicated to their care.

For this reason, in addition to providing them with a unique and motivating experience, the money raised through donations from the riders/owners goes 100% to projects and improvements in the hospital facilities where these young people receive their treatments.

C4S requires a registration fee of 150,00 euros from the owners who sign up for the event, but many of them donate more. We also count on donations from owners who could not participate with their car, but want to support us.

Thanks to the collaboration and generosity of all, 15,130 euros have been collected, which have been distributed to the following hospitals and the association Apsuria:

• Project: “Animal-assisted leisure” of the Apsuria association (4,200 euros).
• Project: “Grand Prize UPH” of the Hospital Universitario de Villalba (3,930 euros).
• Project: “Binest Arte” of the Hospital Universitario Infanta Cristina (3,000 euros).
• Project: “Treasure map” of the Hospital Universitario Infanta Elena (4,000 euros).

The hospitals and foundations that collaborated in this edition of C4S were: Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro, Hospital Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Hospital Universitario Infanta Elena, Hospital Universitario Infanta Cristina, Hospital General de Villalba, Hospital Universitario Rey Juan Carlos, Fundación Ana Carolina Diez Mahou and Asociación Apsuría, who wanted to be part of the positive impact that C4S has generated to date in the cities of Barcelona, Madrid, Salamanca and Andorra la Vella, managing to raise more than 120,000 euros since its inception in 2015.

Since 2022, at each event, we offset the CO2 generated during our event with the planting of trees donated by Dani Blasco and Dani de Quadras creators of “El bosque de los Dani’s” at Tree-Nation.com.

Other collaborators and sponsors of this edition are Red Itevelesa, Itevelesa Automotive, Panerai, Valnest Hotel Puerta América, Circuito de El Jarama – RACE, Real Federación de Automovilismo (RFEDA), Astara Retail Bentley Madrid, Alpine, Aston Martin y Maserati Madrid (Grupo Tayre), Ford, Ineos, , Mercedes Benz Star Madrid, Polestar, Centro Porsche Madrid Oeste, Toyota, Kimoa, Arre Borriquito, Clinica Pop Dental, DavidNade, CCO – Classic Car Owners, Club Porsche España, Royal Experience, Aston Martin Owners Club Spain, Planoramica, ADN Motos, If You Like Cars (IYLC), Raúl Crespo (@kesteine), Jorge Hernández Gómez (@jhgomezphoto) @hoymatriculado.

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