This past summer, Valencia CF -through the VCF Foundation- reached a collaboration agreement with the Spanish Federation of Rare Diseases (FEDER) to give visibility to those who live with some rare disease in Spain.

David Alagarda, a young Valencianista who suffers from retinoblastoma in his right eye, was invited to Mestalla recently.

Retinoblastoma is the most common malignant tumor in childhood and is the third most common childhood cancer. Pepe Alagarda, David's father, explains that "my wife noticed that his eyes would sometimes cross," and as a result of this they visited a pediatrician who made the diagnosis.

His mother, Pilar Villar, adds that “he is happy, which is what counts. He is growing with it and I think he will deal with it well."

They currently belong to the Spanish Retinoblastoma Association (AER), part of FEDER. It is an association that brings together parents of children affected by this disease, with the aim that no affected family feel alone. They promote various activities aimed at achieving greater visibility and awareness of the disease, as a way to advance its prevention and early detection.

Valencia CF ambassador Miguel Ángel Bossio welcomed David's entire family to the VIP Box at Mestalla and accompanied them as they admired all the trophies achieved by the club.

Bossio emphasised that "for Valencia CF to be involved in all this is very important, especially because of the need to raise awareness of this type of illness."