Our Foundation works in network with entities of social action, like Fundació Roure. A few days ago, we attended the inauguration of his social work station in the neighborhood of La Ribera in Barcelona, ​​where users can purchase products that are taken home with a point system, depending on the number of family members and their preferences. We interviewed Soco Delàs, head of the welfare projects area of ​​this foundation, to know more about this project.

What can you tell us about this new social station of the Foundation?
It is a social work station that opens three hours, three days a week, thanks to ten volunteers and a coordinator of the foundation. For our organization, users come to a concerted hour and every two weeks, so they do not have to queue and can be better served. With this appointment system, we work the dignity of the person: his punctuality, his commitment and his respect for other users. In addition, the points system has also benefited them: before we gave them a bag with food; now they are happy to be able to choose what they want.

What can users find in this new social work station?
Basic food products, house cleaning and personal hygiene. At the moment, we serve 130 families, which total a total of 346 people. But, in a few weeks, we know that we will have to look after more, so there are other community outlets around the area that are expected to close.

What more services are offered to users?
Only a month ago we have opened and in the near future we’re going to offer cooking and energy saving classes and we will ask them to become involved in the foundation as volunteers. That is, we are sure that there are people who can help giving cooking classes to others, for example.

Given our experience, when the user is involved as a volunteer in the foundation, increases their self-esteem”

How do they get the products that are available to users?
Thanks to the collaboration of other entities and companies, such as the Food Bank, Nutrition Without Borders and Embracing the World. But we would love to involve other shops in the neighborhood, the Santa Caterina market and, of course, the entities that want it.

Do they accept other donations and how can they be done?
We accept donations from companies, whose employees, for example, can make a collection of money or products to bring them here. We also accept private donations, which may phone us before to coordinate with us. What we ask is that they bring it to us, since we do not have enough means to collect products.

What kind of products are most needed?
Powdered milk for babies from 0 to 6 months, foods that expire late, such as oil, breakfast cereals, coffee, sugar, rice, eggs, fried tomatoes… Also personal hygiene such as gel, shampoo, diapers…

What do you like most about your job?
I do a lot of different things: I listen to people, study unmet needs of Barcelona… Every day I have a new challenge because, apart from the commissary, we have other services, so every day gives you a great bag to learn.

In Barcelona, there are a large number of people with mental health problems that are neither diagnosed nor medicated because of health cuts and these people are very helpless”

Tell us about social showers: how do they work?
They are designed, especially, for families with few resources or who have difficulties in the housing, Spaniards who live alone, people protected and very old with problems of mobility. The people who come here coordinate them in collaboration with the social services and with a schedule. Here we leave everything they need: soap, shampoo, towels. If we see that, in addition to showering, they need to wash their clothes, we refer them to our Solidarity Laundry.

Another of your services is Family Meals, what do they consist of?
They are two dining rooms with capacity for up to 40 people, so that whole families and some other single person in a situation of vulnerability can come and enjoy the food in a cozy and intimate atmosphere. The purpose of these meals is to acquire hygiene habits and also to make a social life, so we sit with other people with whom they may have affinity, by language, interests, etc. It is nice to see that come to taste. We serve lunches from Monday to Sunday at 1 pm and if required by the social worker also take a picnic home for dinner.

Is there a relationship between the dining room and the social department?
All the projects of the Fundació are interrelated. Thus, we can cover needs not covered a priori. For example, seeing a person assiduously in the store, you can detect weaknesses, such as loneliness, dependency, medical problems, cuts in supplies, lack of personal hygiene, etc. It is not that the dining room and the commissary are closely related, is that all the Fundació projects are related to each other for a single purpose: to meet the basic needs of vulnerable people and families.

Rebost comunitari Fundació Roure
Reception in Carders, 39 St. and Economato entering Pou de la Figuera St. Barcelona.
Do you want to collaborate? You can call the phone number 00 34 932 956 013.

La entrada We interviewed Soco Delàs, head of the welfare projects area of Fundació Roure se publicó primero en Fundación Ricardo Fisas.

Last Monday 12nd and Tuesday 13rd June, the last twelve aestheticians enrolled in our ninth edition of the oncology aesthetics course performed the second level in the facilities of the Hotel Qgat of Sant Cugat del Vallés (Barcelona). It has been the first time we have held the practical course outside the offices of Natura Bissé and the experience has been very positive, both for the facilities, for the catering, the staff and for the magnificent garden that beauticians and users of absolutely private way. The users told us that they had been able to relax a lot as if they were in a SPA!

With this last group of the 2017 promotion, the Foundation has trained a total of 500 estheticians in this skin specialty, so we are in luck! Of the total of the trained estheticians, 27 currently collaborate as volunteers in 12 hospitals and patient associations; the last of which to join our program has been the Spanish Association Against Cancer in Alicante (AECC). In this edition, of the 52 beauticians who have finished the course, a total of 13 beauticians have shown their interest in volunteering, which is 25% of the total.

Thanks to volunteers like Núria (in the photo) and Aurora, who accompanied us in this last practical course, since November 2010, we have been able to attend to 1,329 people who were on cancer treatment, with a total of 5,351 individual, professional and free treatments. Also thanks to Natura Bissé, we were able to deliver 6,651 samples of cosmetics so that users could perform skin care treatments at home.

After the formation of the second level, all beauticians have access to continuous training, which consists of a digital magazine that is published every four months and from which we have already edited eighteen numbers. In the journal, beauticians have access to current information, such as interviews with experts, advice, recommendations on cancer books…

La entrada 500 beauticians have received our training in oncological aesthetics se publicó primero en Fundación Ricardo Fisas.

How did you know about the oncological aesthetics program of the Ricardo Fisas Natura Bissé Foundation?
It was about six years ago, when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Through Oncolliga Terrassa, I was referred to by Ana Vilamanyà, technical adviser to the oncology aesthetics program of the Foundation. I was very happy to meet her again: I had known her personally for a long time, because I was her student when I studied to be a beautician.

What treatment did you do?
I burned with radiation therapy and thought it was normal. My doctor went on vacation and I was diagnosed with first-degree burns to the skin. I called Ana and she put a cream on me for the blisters. Then she would call me to ask how I was doing and if I needed anything else. I highly appreciate the human treatment of the Foundation: that they call me and ask me how I am.

How did the oncology aesthetics program help you during your treatment?
Besides the human treatment, the Foundation has helped me a lot and I am very happy with the treatments that make me and the products like the mango, which is really good.

When did you decide to volunteer?
I know that I had to do something to help people, because I think we have to help and collaborate as best we can. Many times, they called me from Oncolliga to accompany different people in treatment and encourage them and even today I continue to collaborate punctually with them. And, in the Foundation, I participated as a user so that the beauticians who were studying the course of oncological aesthetics could practice the treatments with me.

How was your experience with the beauticians who performed the second level of the Foundation’s course?
Very positive. There is a very good atmosphere and the aestheticians are charming with us: they take care of us a lot, they are for us, they make up to us… For us, letting beauticians learn about oncological aesthetics means passing a very nice day with them and with other women who are living the cancer like you.

I do not know how much time I dedicate to my volunteer work; I like being available for what they need from me”

What is your collaboration with the Foundation?
I coordinate the agenda of the Santa Creu and Sant Pau hospital in Barcelona and the Mutua of Terrassa: the patients ask me and I refer them to the hospital or the mutua, so that they can receive the treatment they need. And then I pass the list of patients who will go to the volunteers.

What did you think when they proposed to coordinate a part of the Foundation’s agenda?
I said yes without thinking. I have received much from Oncolliga and from the Ricardo Fisas Natura Bissé Foundation and I have always been clear that I wanted to somehow return it; what I do for these two foundations I always think will be few. During my treatment, I have had very good people around me and that is why I now want to help: give to those who need me. Because life is not just material; I try to collaborate from the heart.

Do you like your work?
A lot. Because I have been through what these people are going through and I always tell them that the esthetician will help them a lot and do not worry, because the treatment has an end, although they now see it far away.

Do you think it helps that you have lived a similar situation before?
It helps a lot, because you have lived what they do and you understand them very well. It also helps the fact that I am a beautician and that, previously, I was working on the telephone. Although I am very clear that my job is to coordinate the agenda, listen to them and refer them to the professionals who are attending them.

What have you learned after having undergone cancer treatment?
We have to be strong and courageous to pull forward. Because life brings you things so that you can get over it every day. Not just cancer. All are stages of life. I go where I need to and I do not throw the towel.

Are you still on treatment?
I still am, but I have already gone through chemotherapy, radiation therapy and hormone treatment. I hope to be discharged this year. But for me, the most difficult thing has come after the cancer, since I had an accident and now I have difficulty walking. I live today, the moment and try to laugh at some things in life.

La entrada Loli Romero, volunteer for the oncology aesthetics program: “I help from the heart” se publicó primero en Fundación Ricardo Fisas.

Ana Barangé Sala is store manager in the Botiga Solidària of the Fundació Roure since approximately 2012. Ana came to the foundation through her brother, the first textile entrepreneur who donated new clothes. Upon his death, his family decided to continue helping through the company and Ana started as a volunteer, so she had studied a social worker degree. Do you want to know more about this store that has 87 square meters and was opened in 1998?

What is the relationship between the Fundació Roure and Natura Bissé?
Ricardo Fisas met the foundation and wanted both the family and Natura Bissé employees to know Roure. From then until now, Natura Bissé’s employees, suppliers and family collaborate with us by providing us with clothes and other objects, which are always in very good condition and are of a high quality: we are very grateful to the workers for their effort and involvement with our store.

What is your job?
Raise awareness of society, explaining to the donors that everything they neglect, can be very useful for other people and in keeping loyalty to donate all year. At the same time, speak with social entities and social services to derive more people, let them know that they can come to dress and dress their house, choosing what they want to buy.

In this store, it is more about serving than selling. Our store has a different concept, because here the people who come in, need especially affection and that you listen to them. We know customers by their names, because they come every day. For them, the store is like a social center in the neighborhood of La Ribera, in Barcelona, Spain, where we are.

What kind of people come to buy?
Our audience is very faithful and likes to come and visit us, because we have news anytime. There are elderly people of Spanish nationality who have no purchasing power, live alone and, therefore, have no opportunity to talk to anyone for hours. The second largest group is that of families without resources. The third type of client we have is foreigners living in El Borne and, finally, young people looking for second-hand items.

How is this client looking for second hand items?
It is a public from 20 to 30 years old, who is aware that things are not thrown. They want to promote a sustainable way of life and care for the environment. They know that everything (clothing, furniture, costume jewelery) what they do not wear, not use, can be useful for others.

We only sell clothes and objects in very good condition”

In addition to clothing and costume jewelry, what else can we find in the store?
We sell household goods (glasses, plates, cutlery …); small decorative objects, photo frames, pictures or lamps; household linen such as sheets, blankets, towels or pillows and products for facial and body care: tweezers, scissors, nail files…

How can a person make a donation?
We ask individuals to phone us and tell us what they have. If they have a very large volume of things and see that they fit with what we need, we can send a transfer, although we always try to have them come to know our work. If the volume is small, they can bring it from 10 to 20 hours to the store. In any case, what we do ask is that they bring us things in very good condition. In the case of clothes, for example, that is washed, without balls, that is not grazed… It is important that they think about the dignity of the person who will eventually acquire it.

What clothes, objects… are the most necessary and yet you do not have it in stock?
Household clothes and adult and children’s footwear.

How many people work in the store?
In the store we work 4 people. One of them at 40 hours and two at half-time. The workshop manager works 25 hours and, of course, we count on the help of 15 weekly volunteers who work hard! In addition, we have volunteers derived from social entities and institutes; boys who don’t know what to do in their future and who with their volunteering in Botiga Solidària learn habits: teamwork, punctuality, the shop’s office… And finally there are people who have to do work for the benefit of the community. They come to the store as an alternative to jail.

Do you need more volunteers?
We always need more and they will be very welcome. Here we try to take great care of our volunteers.

In the store we do not give away anything, because choosing and buying dignifies the person”

What do you do with the money you get with the Botiga Solidària?
The Botiga Solidària project is one of the nine projects of Roure that tries to generate sufficient income to cover the direct expenses of the store. Thanks to the involvement of companies and individuals, we are managing to increase our turnover and if Botiga Solidària generates more income, it will enable more people to be served in the social canteen or in the home support project.

Botiga Solidària of the Fundació Roure:
c/ Forn de la Fonda s/n. Barcelona.
Hours: 10 am to 8 pm. Saturdays, from 10 am to 2 pm and from 4 to 8 pm.
Telephone number: (00 34) 93 310 38 85

Photos provided by Fundació Roure

La entrada We interviewed Ana Barangé Sala, store manager in the Botiga Solidària of the Fundació Roure se publicó primero en Fundación Ricardo Fisas.

On the 8th and 9th of May, a second group of beauticians performed the second level of the oncology aesthetics course, which has an eminently practical and solidary vocation. In order for aestheticians to be able to practice specific skin treatments in people who are on cancer treatment, Juani, who is a user of our program, volunteered with other fourteen women to the Natura Bissé headquarters where the course was held. At the end of the day, she sent us this letter which we transcribe below, as a way of expressing our most sincere thanks for his words:

“Today is a very happy day in my life. Right now I’m on a cloud I can not believe the day I’ve had! But I’m not the only one who thinks about it. There are about fourteen people with whom I spoke today who think the same thing as I do. And that is due to wonderful people who work for Natura Bissé and who have granted us a day, as if we had asked for Aladdin’s lamp, because it has been like in a story.

We arrived at the Foundation about 9.30 AM. There María Mata and Ana Vilamanyà, whom I love very much, because she is a special person who has given me so much give us the welcome. We were taken to the locker room to get our slippers and bathrobe. And, from there on, it was wonderful: they gave us treatments in the skin and in all areas of the body, especially in the chest, because, due to radiotherapies, most of us have been quite spoiled. All in a relaxing atmosphere with background music, with wonderful people, who made us treatments with Natura Bissé brand products.

The beauticians have been angels for each of the users: they and the Foundation have given us a wonderful day “

An angel for each cancer patient. María and Anna were guiding the angels, as if it were a great orchestra. So far, everything would be fantastic! But the story did not end here: we were offered a mid-morning breakfast and a wonderful meal, which nothing to envy to thefive stars hotels.

And after dinner, he followed the beautiful story: two girls who represented Jorge de La Garza offered us a wide range of products for makeup, special for people with skin as sensitive as us. They made up the first one of us so that the beauticians could see the steps to follow. And, again, each angel chose who to make up. And we end the afternoon, beautiful. We are women who have been a minimum of one year of oncological treatments, which have been a nightmare, that we have spent a very hard time and we are very punished and very sensitive.

I have spoken to others and am expressing what we have all said. This is a gift from heaven. When my partner saw me, he told me he was gorgeous. Thank you, to all who have made this day so special for us!”.

La entrada Juani, voluntary user: “Aestheticians are like angels for women who are on cancer treatment” se publicó primero en Fundación Ricardo Fisas.

On Monday, May the 15th, Carla, Eva, Juani, Mabel and Raquel joined the team of voluntary beauticians of the oncological aesthetics program of the Ricardo Fisas Natura Bissé Foundation. Thanks to these five volunteers from Alicante, we offer self-care sessions and individual, professional and free treatments to those who need it, through the Spanish Association against Cancer in Alicante.

The five volunteers attend the users every Monday, from 10 to 14 hours, at the association’s headquarters, with up to eight sessions a day, thanks also to the collaboration of the AECC cancer psychologist at Alicante, Ana Isabel Martínez. In order to carry out their work, all of them completed the oncological aesthetics course of the Foundation and, several days ago, they received the specific training and volunteering offered by Ana Vilamanyà (left of the image), who is a technical adviser to our program of oncological aesthetics.
Welcome to our team and thank you for your involvement!

La entrada The oncological aesthetics program begins in Alicante se publicó primero en Fundación Ricardo Fisas.

On April the 24th and the 25th, fifteen aestheticians held the second level of the specialized oncology course on skin organized by the Ricardo Fisas Natura Bissé Foundation, with a clear vocation of solidarity. The second level is eminently practical and, for this reason, is divided into two days and in groups of between thirteen and fifteen aestheticians.

On the first day, Ana Vilamanyà, technical advisor of oncological aesthetics, explains the theory about facial and body treatment in a cabin for people on cancer treatment. Then, with our technical advisor Maria Mata, practice the aesthetic dynamics that professionals must take into account during chemotherapy, radiation therapy and hormonal treatment of their clients.

On the second day, in order the estheticians carry out specific skin treatments for people undergoing medical-oncological treatment, the Foundation invites different women who are receiving such treatments in hospitals and associations, through our oncological aesthetics program.

After the course, the beauticians receive a diploma endorsed by the Spanish Society of Aesthetic Medicine (SEME) and a questionnaire of satisfaction. The beauticians of this edition valued the second level with an average of 9 out of 10. On the other hand, those who wish can collaborate as volunteers in our oncology aesthetics program. This is the case of Ana who, shortly, begins to collaborate with us by implementing our program at the Hospital Nostra Senyora de Meritxell in Andorra: Welcome and thanks for your interest!

La entrada The second level of the oncological aesthetics course begins se publicó primero en Fundación Ricardo Fisas.

The possible effects of chemotherapy on the skin are dryness, erythema, rashes and blemishes

María Mata explained that during chemotherapy, the patient can prepare the skin with neutral pH soap, moisturize it with aloe vera and mango and shea butter, and protect face, scalp and body with SPF30 and SPF50 factor.
She talked too about why it is so important to know about self-care of the skin during radiotherapy, because the skin changes and in the radiated area and nearby areas it is necessary to hydrate the skin well a month before radiotherapy, immediately after each session and for several weeks thereafter; as well as using high sun protection.

María Mata explained that people in treatment can receive moisturizing massages, so they benefit physically and mentally, but always with prior medical consent. Also they themselves can realize automasajes with a very simple movements that the same attendees to the event had occasion to realize.

La entrada We collaborate in the “Entre nosaltres” day of the Sant Pau hospital in Barcelona se publicó primero en Fundación Ricardo Fisas.

La entrada Presentation of the voluntary diploma to the beauticians of the Foundation se publicó primero en Fundación Ricardo Fisas.

Dr. Fania Muñoz is a dermatologist at the Dermik Multidisciplinary Clinic. In the course of the first level of the oncology aesthetics program participated with a talk to talk about skin cancer.
Why is increasing the incidence of skin cancer in the Spanish population?
The incidence of skin cancer has increased in recent years, as people increasingly spend more time outdoors, doing outdoor activities.
Which people are most susceptible to developing skin cancer?
Those who have been chronically exposed to the sun or have intermittent intense exposures. Also having burns in childhood or use tanning booths with UVA rays, not to get so white in summer or during winter are important risk factors for skin cancer.
Could you explain what the concept of dermo-oncology is?
On the one hand, the concept of dermo-oncology includes patients who present some of the types of skin cancer, whether basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma or malignant melanoma. On the second hand, it also covers the study of the cancer patient, that patient who is under certain medications in the treatment of his cancer that can manifest with complications in the skin, or can favor the development of skin cancer.
What other tumors does the dermo-oncology cover?
There are other less frequent tumors that may originate from the blood vessels, hair follicle, cutaneous nerves or specific cutaneous cells such as cutaneous lymphomas and other tumors that may appear on the skin and derive from other organs, in the form of cutaneous metastases.

How many types of skin cancer are there?
Skin cancer can be divided into two types: non-melanoma skin cancer, which includes basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma.
What is basal cell carcinoma?
It is the most frequent skin cancer and also, the one with the best prognosis, since the treatment is to completely remove the tumor. This type of cancer appears in sites that have been exposed to the sun in a chronic way like the face, the scalp, the neck and the back of the hands and legs. It is rare for this type of skin cancer to spread to other organs. Now, the next intermediate malignancy would be squamous cell carcinoma.
How is this type of skin cancer?
This type of cancer can cause metastases because it can spread to other sites through the lymph nodes. It also appears on sites exposed to the sun.
And what is a malignant melanoma?
It would be the most aggressive variety and the worst prognosis. This can occur as a new injury or by changing a mole that has already been on the skin for a long time. Therefore, we emphasize the importance of annual surveillance with a dermatologist in order to detect lesions of incipient forms.
What would you tell beauticians to take into account when treating a patient on cancer treatment with skin cancer?
We recommend be alert always to the development of new skin lesions in patients who are undergoing oncological treatment, the appearance of lesions that change shape, size, bleed or cause itching or changes in moles that the patient already had in shape previous. If there is any doubt, refer the specialist so that he can provide the patient with an adequate prognosis and treatment.

La entrada Dermatologist Dr. Fania Muñoz talks about skin cancer se publicó primero en Fundación Ricardo Fisas.