Floods in Valencia: “If we don’t stand together, there’s nothing left”

“We would like to thank the donors who were very numerous during the floods in Valencia. This call for donations was a phenomenal success and was a real adventure for us” recalled Isabelle and Paqui Godino, the two sisters at the head of the association of the Spanish cultural center of Tarbes during the meeting organized to thank all those who provided their help.

The volunteers gathered in the premises and invited these little hands who worked so hard in solidarity, to make their contribution after the tragedy in Valencia.

Very quickly, the calls were heard and the association saw its premises invaded by donations as Gérard Trémège, mayor of Tarbes, recalled: “We were asked because there were so many things here! With Michel Garnier, we came and we found that this cultural center was submerged. We were told, we have to transport all this, how do we do it? I called Jean-Claude Barcos and I told him that we had one. problem for to transport these donations to Spain and if he knew anyone who could help us and he replied, yes, me! And he brought an impressive semi-trailer in front of the center himself! It was thanks to a driver from the company who took the road towards Valencia. Obvious for the boss of Transports Barcos and not only because of his Spanish origins: “It's normal for me! Today, if we are not in solidarity with other populations in misfortune, there is no longer any nothing. For me, it's part of solidarity and that's why I didn't hesitate for a second, I didn't doubt, we did it.”

A donation of €500 and €1,500 grant

Also in the ranks, another generous hand, that of Sylvie Ferreira de Sousa, exclusive general insurance agent at Axa whose association, “Axa Atout Cœur” works in the areas of the fight against exclusion, risk prevention and environmental protection.

It was with a check for €500 that she contributed to this cause: “Thank you for allowing me to make this donation, my mother-in-law is in Valencia and I lived in Andalusia, so it's something something that touched me even more.”

For his part, the mayor of Tarbes announced an exceptional subsidy of €1,500 allocated to the association: “We voted for it in the municipal council, you have done a remarkable job, well done to all”.