ASPANOB, the Association of Parents of Children with Cancer of the Balearic Islands, has presented its Solidarity Calendar 2026, a very special edition that coincides with the 40th anniversary of the organization. Under the slogan “A journey through awareness”, the initiative aims to put the focus on the reality of childhood cancer in the islands and the impact that the disease has not only on children, but throughout their family environment.
The presentation of the calendar comes in a particularly sensitive context: the lack of children’s oncologists in all the islands forces many families to travel to Palma so that their children can receive treatment, with all that this entails on a personal, social and economic level.
A trip that involves the whole family
For families, continuous medical travel means a radical change in their daily lives. Constant travel, reorganization of working life, temporary separation of household members and a significant economic effort are part of a routine marked by uncertainty.
Added to this is the need for external support, fundamental to sustain normality as far as possible: grandparents, friends and the educational community play a key role in this process. “When a minor travels through cancer, the whole family moves with him”, summarizes ASPANOB, in a phrase that condenses the complex reality faced by these families.
The train as a symbol of a shared journey
The Solidarity Calendar 2026 uses the train, ASPANOB’s characteristic symbol, as a metaphor for this journey. Each of the twelve months of the year becomes a thematic “station” that reflects a stage of the process experienced by children and their families, from the moment of diagnosis to the expected return home.
Each station has an original illustration made by a child who has been hospitalized or has overcome the disease, a phrase that summarizes the vital moment and a QR code. Through this code, users can learn more about the story associated with each month and discover the company that sponsors that station.
During 2026, these stations will also come to life through symbolic theatrical micro-scenes that will be disseminated on social networks, with the aim of making the message closer, more visual and accessible to society as a whole.
Station 40′, a tribute to four decades of support
The symbolic route of the calendar culminates in the so-called ‘Station 40’, a space dedicated to commemorate the forty years of ASPANOB’s trajectory accompanying Balearic families. This final station will be the scene of a special event with candle blowing, thanks and an institutional photograph in which families, collaborators, sponsors, authorities and media will participate.
It is a moment of collective recognition to all the people, organizations and professionals who have made possible four decades of psychological, social, economic and logistical support to families affected by childhood cancer in the Balearic Islands.
The calendar pursues a clear dual purpose: to raise awareness without drama about the reality of childhood cancer and to raise essential funds to ensure the continuity of the free services offered by ASPANOB.
In this sense, the association insists that “this calendar is not only to hang on the wall: it is to look at it, understand it and act”, appealing to the active involvement of society.
Where and how to purchase the solidarity calendar
The Solidarity Calendar 2026 will be on sale from Monday December 29th until January 6th at the ASPANOB stand at the Mercat de Nadal de Sant Antoni, in exchange for a donation of 10 euros.
In addition, on January 18 it will also be available for purchase during the annual festival held at the Paseo de las Fuentes de Sant Antoni, a charity event to benefit the association.
Involvement of the business community
At the same time, ASPANOB has launched a sponsorship campaign aimed at the business community, with four types of collaboration adapted to different economic capacities: Stop Sponsor (1,000 euros), with exclusivity in one season; Gold Sponsor (500 euros), with annual presence and publications; Silver Sponsor (200 euros), with a mention in the company section and group publications; and Bronze Sponsor (100 euros), with an appearance in the general landing and thanks in social networks.
Each calendar purchased and each company that joins the initiative contributes to ensuring that no family has to face this difficult journey alone, reinforcing ASPANOB’s commitment to comprehensive support throughout the process.
