Queen Letizia continues with her agenda after accompanying King Felipe to the El Pardo Palace this Wednesday to welcome Olympic and Paralympic athletes, Mrs. Letizia went to the Prado Museum to present awards that honored people with disabilities for their tireless struggle.
© GTRESA most emotional act that had one of its high points when the Queen recognized the former footballer Juan Carlos Unzué, who in 2020 announced that he was retiring as a coach after being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Since then he has become a great activist and one of the visible heads of this group that demands aid of all kinds. ALS It is a degenerative disease that causes progressive muscle paralysis and has a fatal prognosis.
© House of HM the KingThe moving tribute took place within the 25th anniversary of the Aequitas Foundation, in which the highest representatives of the disability sector participated and was a tribute to both people who deal with some type of disability and their families. and to the public or private institutions that represent and support them.
The Queen, who has opted for a sober black knit dress, She was accompanied at the event by the Minister of Equality, Ana Redondo; the president of the Aequitas Foundation and the General Council of Notaries, José Ángel Martínez Sanchiz; the president of the Royal Board of Trustees of the Prado Museum, Javier Solana; the general secretary of Innovation and Quality of the Public Justice Service, Sofía Puente; and the director of the Aequitas Foundation, Almudena Castro-Girona.
© Europa PressThe event began with the screening of the commemorative video of the entity’s 25th anniversary and the master class titled: Disability, a Human Rights issue. Progress and pending challengesby Soledad Cisternas, former president of the United Nations committee on the rights of Persons with Disabilities.
© GTRESAfterwards, the presentation of the Awards presented by the Queen took place. Rosa Martínez, founder of the Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza Special Education Center in Guadix, has been awarded the award in the Anonymous Heroes category. Juan Carlos Unzué, spokesperson for the National Confederation of Associations with ALS and the Luzón Foundation, has been recognized with the Speaker recognition. Very excited, the former coach thanked the tribute and received his corresponding diploma among several minutes of applause, including that of Mrs. Letizia. After the family photo, the Queen chatted with Unzué and the rest of the attendees in a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
© GTRESYour family, your great support
Juan Carlos Unzué is an example of improvement and courage. In 2019 he was diagnosed with ALS and decided to face it with a smile and giving visibility to the disease. You are not alone in your battle, His family has always been by his side giving him all the support. and affection, but always in a discreet background. He fell in love with his wife, María Elorza, when they were children and they married in 1989. They have three children: Aitor, Jesús and María. “From the first day they have been very attentive to me. We have always been very close, but “This difficult test is allowing me to see how strong my family is,” he declared in an exclusive interview on ¡HOLA!
© House of HM the KingLast summer, Juan Carlos Unzué lived one of his happiest moments when carrying his little daughter Maria to the altar while the chords of the song sounded For you I will fly. Full of emotion, he could not hold back his tears just like his daughter. “I still cannot express in words everything I felt last Saturday. Without a doubt, so far, the best day of my life. Through tears, I want to thank each person who was there on our day, not only for having been present, but for creating the vibe that was created,” said María Unzué.