VCF Academy Programs participants help DANA recovery efforts

Following the flash flooding that has devastated the Valencia region, messages of encouragement and solidarity have arrived from different parts of America, Asia and Europe where Valencia CF have a presence through the VCF Academy Programs.

“The VCF Houston Family are united in heart and prayer for the Valencian families." read one of the messages that arrived from the USA, published by the VCF Academy in Houston on social media.

Messages of encouragement also came from Mexico, where a VCF Camp is being run this November in the town of Morelia, and from Japan's VCF Academy Wakayama.

“We are very far away geographically, but we would like to share our empathy for those affected, in a region with which we are connected. We continue praying for those affected in the Valencia region,” they stated.

Closer countries such as Italy, Greece and the Netherlands have also shown their messages of encouragement and support.

"This situation has crossed borders" says Isma Fayos, coach of the VCF Academy Canada. "At the VCF Academy Canada, everyone was asking us how the situation was and how they could help. We were provided with several links where we could make donations, such as the Banco de Alimentos food bank, and the people of the VCF Academy Canada have been helping."

More than a million kilograms of food and basic necessities have been collected at Mestalla. A few days later, Isma was able to help in some of the affected towns, taking advantage of the scheduled visit he had to Valencia to carry out training at the Ciudad Deportiva.

"I was in Catarroja and Albal, collaborating at a food delivery point, distributing from house to house to the elderly or those families with small children who have more limited mobility" he explained.

"The response from those in Valencia has been incredible. It is amazing how many people have come, altruistically, from all over Spain. We will have to be close to the community and continue helping for as long as they need it," concluded Fayos.