The ball of associations

THE BALL OF ASSOCIATIONS

THE BALL THAT PLAYS TO BEAT CHAGAS

This is the route of stops around the world made by this soccer ball, dedicated to Leo Messi and signed by representatives from FINDECHAGAS member associations.

LIST OF COUNTRIES AND CITIES THAT HAVE FINDECHAGAS ASSOCIATIONS

  • Argentina (Buenos Aires)
  • Bolivia (Santa Cruz, Cochabamba)
  • Brazil (Recife, São Paulo, Campinas)
  • Colombia (Yopal)
  • Spain (Valencia, Murcia, Madrid,
  • Barcelona)
  • USA (Virginia)
  • Italy (Bergamo)
  • Mexico (Xalapa, Veracruz)

FINDECHAGAS

On April 14th, 2012, member associations of the International Federation of Associations of People Affected by Chagas Disease (FINDECHAGAS) met in Barcelona for their second annual assembly.

Around the same time, the first video spot was filmed and premiered starring Miguel Baltazar García and Leo Messi. Representatives from most of the member associations of FINDECHAGAS were present during the spot premiere in the Roma Room at Camp Nou soccer stadium.

The day after the first spot premiere, we bought the Barça soccer ball that symbolized the beginning of the club, its roots. We decided at the assembly to thank Leo Messi for his involvement by giving him the ball signed by members of all the FINDECHAGAS member associations.

Those of us at the Barcelona assembly believed firmly in the idea and, after signing the ball in gold to symbolize the importance of the action, we started the ball on a long journey around the world in the hands of various people. On November 8th, 2013, the ball completed the last leg of its journey on a train from Valencia to Barcelona.