From the left: coach Louis van Gaal, Jorge Martínez (Siempre+Positivo’s promoter) and Maria A. Blasco, CNIO’s scientific director. / CNIO.
Accomplished scientists and junior researchers starting out their careers, lab technicians, administrative staff… CNIO workers show their T-shirts and talk about the “most positive” aspects of their job
The ‘Siempre+Positivo’ campaign raises funds for CNIO’s cancer research by selling T-shirts designed by the Spanish brand El Ganso
The initiative is based on the short documentary Siempre+Positivo –produced by Morena Films and Mediabrands–, where Louis van Gaal talks to Maria Blasco, CNIO’s scientific director, about his experience as a cancer patient and about science as the answer to cancer
A couple of weeks ago the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), the main cancer research institution in the country, hosted in its auditorium a very unusual press conference to announce the signing of soccer coach Louis van Gaal. He talked to Maria Blasco, CNIO’s scientific director, about his experience as a prostate cancer patient.
“You always have to be positive in life” Van Gaal said, after telling the audience about some painful episodes in his personal life. And about the significance of cancer prevention: “I want to help alert young people, that’s my goal here”.
The press conference took place during the presentation of the Siempre+Positivo’ (Always Positive, in Spanish) initiative, aiming to raise funds for CNIO’s cancer research by selling T-shirts designed by the Spanish brand El Ganso.
A fit of rage turned into a meme, which now supports research
The name of the initiative “Siempre Positivo”(Always Positive in Spanish) refers to an answer Van Gaal –FC Barcelona’s coach at the time– gave 25 years ago during a press conference This answer has entered Spanish soccer history. “I am very proud that my words from so long ago are now helping CNIO in cancer research”, van Gaal now states.
Workers at CNIO have decided to follow the coach’s lead and also wear ‘Siempre Positivo’ T-shirts to further drive the campaign and remind of the need to prevent cancer and search for better treatments.
“The most positive” aspect of research: “knowing that it is useful”
Elite researchers, young scientists just beginning their careers, lab technicians, administrative staff… show the T-shirt and tell about “the most positive” aspect of their job: “The most beautiful thing is that we are part of a chain that helps treating cancer”; “we are driven by our passion for our work and by knowing that it is useful”; “exploring the unknown is my main motivation for research”; “we contribute to a lesser number of patients and to better treatments for tomorrow”.
Their answers and pictures will feed CNIO’s social media over the next weeks.
The first cause of death in Spain
Cancer is already the first cause of death in Spain. It is responsible of more than a fourth of all deaths, as the National Statistics Institute (INE) has just announced. At the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) half a thousand scientists, plus administrative and support staff, work to push forward prevention, diagnosis and personalized treatment of cancer. International rankings place CNIO among the most prominent cancer research centres in the world
The short documentary can be watched on the web www.siemprepositivo.life.
T-shirts and sweaters with the ‘Siempre Positivo’ claim can be bought at www.siemprepositivo.life, El Ganso stores and the web www.elganso.com.