Cars for Smiles Barcelona – May 11, 2024

Last Saturday, May 11, a special and touching event took place. It left an indelible mark on the lives of teenagers and their families who face various daily challenges. In collaboration with institutions such as the Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, the Ànima Foundation, and the Johan Cruyff Foundation, the HM Obra Social Nens Foundation who facilitated the registration of their patients. An exclusive group of 41 young people had the opportunity to enjoy an unforgettable experience as co-drivers in high-end vehicles at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. 

The inaugural event took place in the elegant setting of the Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona, where participants were warmly welcomed to begin the accreditation process. The first surprise for the co-drivers was the presentation of two very special gifts: a Spanish National Motorsport Team jersey from the Spain team of the FIA Motorsport Games, and a license issued by the Royal Spanish Motorsport Federation (Real Federación de Automovilismo – RFEDA) to honor the brave co-drivers with a special recognition highlighting their courage and determination, all thanks to the collaboration agreement signed by the RFEDA with Cars For Smiles. The person in charge of the delivery of the gifts was Belén García. In addition to being a driver in the European Le Mans Series, competing in the LMP3 category, Belén is a prominent figure in the world of motorsport and a member of the National Team, with whom she will compete in the Karting Endurance category this October in the event considered the Olympic Games of Motorsport. 

The owners of the supercars also registered and received a distinctive plaque for their vehicles, marking the 10th Anniversary Cars for Smiles Rally with a golden edition, courtesy of collaborator AURA Identidad Visual. Additionally, all participants were given a welcome gift bag. 

Inside the main ball room of the Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona, there was a slot car circuit courtesy of collaborator SlotGarraf, who had recreated a scale replica of the iconic Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Thus, while some enjoyed the various breakfast options, others chose to “race on the track.” Furthermore, on the main stage, with a large screen, two very exclusive vehicles were displayed: a Porsche 964 Speedster (one of 936 worldwide) and an Aston Martin Virage (one of 358 worldwide). 

The opening ceremony was led by the president and founder of Cars for Smiles, Martijn Elvers, along with the regional manager of Hilton Iberian Peninsula, Mr. Joachim Hartl. After the welcome speeches, Mrs. Montserrat Sagarra Castro, representative of the HM Obra Social Nens Foundation, took the stage to explain the positive impact of the Cars for Smiles Barcelona 2023 edition. In this edition, a total of 11,350.00 euros was raised for the “Dental Health” project of the HM Obra Social Nens Foundation. Thanks to the foundation’s work and the generous contribution of Cars for Smiles drivers, help has been provided to 40 underprivileged people with dental problems, restoring their confidence to smile. 

For the Cars for Smiles Barcelona 2024 edition, two winning projects were highlighted:

• The “MyRoom” project from Hospital Sant Joan de Déu. 
• The “Humanization of Hospital Spaces at Hospital del Mar” project, carried out by the Ànima Foundation. 

During the event, Mrs. Mireia Espinet Gimeno, director of volunteering at Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, presented the “MyRoom” project, while Mrs. Olga Adell Fite, director of the Ànima Foundation, explained the objectives of the project for Hospital del Mar. 

The ceremony became even more emotional with the screening of a video that included messages of encouragement and support from prominent figures in the motor racing world. Among them were Pedro de la Rosa (Aston Martin F1), Antonio Lobato (F1 presenter and commentator on TV), Paco González (radio announcer), and professional rally drivers (and sisters) Mónica and Marta Plaza, who offered words of encouragement to the young participants. 

Next, Dr. Pepe Rueda, a doctor in F1 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, took the stage to explain how emergency teams work in the event of an accident. Additionally, he shared details about his work in the “fastest ambulances in the world”, the Mercedes AMG vehicles adapted for track emergencies. 

Following this, Belén García took the stage to share her experience of finishing second in the race on May 4th at the French circuit of Paul Ricard, as well as her JustDrive initiatives in karting and her commitment to supporting and promoting female talent in motorsport. 

Many thanks to Belén and Pepe for your collaboration! 

In addition to the exclusive vehicles on display, there was also a prominent showcase containing a helmet and a plaque signed by seven personalities from the world of motorsport. Mr. José  Vilana, representative of Cars for Smiles, took the stage to reveal the mystery behind this special helmet, a commemorative helmet for the 10 years of Cars for Smiles crafted by one of the leading figures in automotive art, Manu Campa, renowned for his extraordinary precision in painting, with works requested worldwide, making this helmet a truly unique piece of art. 

José, furthermore, had the privilege of collecting the signatures of seven VIPs from the world of motorsport, who generously collaborated with Cars for Smiles by adding their autographs. We want to express a very special thanks to: Pedro de la Rosa (Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team), Àlex Crivillé (MotoGP Legend), Nani Roma (Dakar Rally), Maverick Viñales (MotoGP Aprilia), Pepe Martí (Campos Racing F2), Takaaki Nakagami (MotoGP LCR Honda), and Jaime Alguersuari (former Toro Rosso F1 driver). 

The Helmet was finally raffled among participants who purchased a €5 ticket, managing to raise an additional €725 for the “MyRoom” projects at Hospital Sant Joan de Déu and the “Humanization of Hospital Spaces at Hospital del Mar,” carried out by the Ànima Foundation. 

Afterward, the most anticipated moment for the co-drivers arrived: team assignment. Each co driver was paired with a vehicle and its owner, forming teams that would remain together for the rest of the activities. The vehicles and teams were prepared to depart, and after an exciting transfer to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, the young co-drivers had the opportunity to experience the adrenaline of speed and the excitement of racing around the circuit from the inside. The car owners received instructions about the track layout and to follow the safety cars, information that had also been provided during the opening ceremony. 

The day continued with a lunch at the circuit, prepared by the Aramark team, where participants and volunteers shared stories, dreams, and hopes. The festive atmosphere was imbued with camaraderie and solidarity, creating bonds that will endure far beyond the event. 

At the end of the day, at the Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona, an awards ceremony and the official closing of the event took place. In addition to receiving automotive-style gifts provided  by official dealers Motorsol Gallery (Bentley Barcelona and Lamborghini Barcelona), Quadis Gallery (Aston Martin Barcelona, Maserati Quadis Gallery, and Ferrari  Barcelona), the “Helmet by Manu Campa” was raffled, and it was awarded to number 441. 

Before departing, teams had the opportunity to collect their printed photos from the morning, courtesy of the T&T Gestión Patrimonial team, which took the photographs and quickly  prepared a brochure for each team. 

The event not only offered a day of fun and excitement but also provided the participating teenagers with a valuable reminder of their inner strength and the unwavering support of their  community. As one attendee expressed, “Today, the cars took us beyond the track; they took us to a place where dreams come true and barriers are broken.” 

The collaborators and sponsors of this edition include Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Real Federación Española de Automovilismo, Aston Martin Barcelona, Bentley Barcelona, Official Ferrari Dealer Quadis Gallery Barcelona, Lamborghini Barcelona, Maserati Quadis Gallery, Integra Cars, Integra Serveis, TN Autosport, Auto-Storica, Aramark, Masa i Masa Seguros, Grupo Valverde, ServiCanto, Aquila Films, Audio-Equip, Stinger Spain, Kimoa, T&T Gestión Patrimonial, Aston Martin Owners Club Spain, Royal Detail Luxury Car Detailing, Gauvin Pictures, Porsche Club España, Funtastic events, Avidalia, Torelló Viticultors, Slot del Garraf, Aura Identidad Visual, Gràfiques Voisin-Mateu, Polestar, Pere Nubiola Photography, Volte.earth, Events & Technology Production, Classic Car Owners Madrid, y el artista automovilista Manu Campa.

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