On Sunday, November 10 , Hostalric will carry out a solidarity action for the benefit of the BPAN Spain Foundation : all the proceeds from the tourist visits scheduled for that day in the town will go to research into the ultra-rare disease BPAN, through of the Sant Joan de Déu Foundation. This initiative aims to raise funds to advance research into this neurodegenerative disease that mainly affects girls and for which there is currently no cure.
Visitors can enjoy different types of cultural visits and, at the same time, contribute to this charitable cause. The program of visits on the 10th includes:
- Medieval site: visits with key
- The Castle: entrance
- Castle guided tours
- Theatrical visit at Hostalric’s Castle
The disease BPAN (Beta-Propeller Protein-Associated Neurodegeneration) is caused by the mutation of the WDR45 gene, which prevents autophagy, the cellular cleaning process, and causes an accumulation of iron in the brain, affecting neurons. In Spain, there are only 14 diagnosed cases, one of them that of Noa Sánchez Vicent, a young resident of Hostalric, whose family is involved in the BPAN Spain Association, founded in 2021 to support the affected families and promote research.
The BPAN Spain Association will have an information tent on the same day to raise awareness of the disease and collect donations through Bizum solidari (06585).
