euskalkultura.eus

Bermeo, Bizkaia.  This Saturday at the Paellada that will take place at the Tala in Bermeo, there will be t-shirt sales in support of Joseba Andoni, to raise money to help this boy form Bakio who lives in Miami.  The supporters of the initiative are friends of his mother, Eneritz. They also have other activities and ideas in mind to help the family. 

Joseba Andoni nearly drowned when he was 11 months old in an accident that has had serious consequences: brain damage, developmental delays and seizures.  In 2007, the family moved to Miami where he received special treatment at the Miami Children’s Hospital.  His mother Eneritz, and brother Enaitz, uncles, grandmother and cousins have been members of the Miami Euskal Etxea ever since. 

Nevertheless, when Joseba Andoni turned 8 he was no longer qualified for the program at the Miami Children’s Hospital.  The family has found an experimental treatment using stem cells, and is trying to raise money for that.  The treatment costs $70,000 and the Euskal Etxea in Miami, as well as the group in Bermeo are trying to help them raise it. 

“What started as a small idea has snowballed,” Jaione, member of the Bermeo group told EuskalKultura.com.  “One day we decided to participate in the march to the shrine of Bermeo with t-shirts for Joseba, so that he would know that his town is also behind him.  And to our surprise, everyone asked us what had happened to Joseba.” 

“By word of mouth, people started going to the store of one of our friends to ask how they could by t-shirts.  That’s when we decided to make t-shirts and dye Bermeo on them on the day of the Madalena,” she added. 

T-shirts for Joseba Andoni are on sale for 8 Euros a piece at the Haiek Fatu fruit store in Bermeo (Aurrekoetxea kalea, 2, San Juan arkupean), or by calling (94 465 58 44 - 638 37 13 32) or via email: juntosporjoseba@gmail.com. 

Other activities will also take place this Saturday with the group participating in the Paellada in Bermeo on Joseba Andoni’s behalf where they will sell t-shirts at the Tala.  They will also participate in the Euskadi Marmitas contest on July 27^th in Bermeo, where they will also sell t-shirts.  They will publish more activities in the upcoming weeks. 

“We know that the people in Bermeo are always very supportive and we are sure that this will not be a one-time thing and that we can count on more support.  Even though we are experiencing the crisis, the town of Bermeo has always been very generous in these things, and we think that we will be able to do something for Joseba Andoni,” Jaione concluded.

For more information on the campaign in support of Joseba Andoni in Bermeo, here. 

The campaign at the Euskal Etxea in Miami: "United for Joseba Andoni". 

Thanks for your support.