When Dr Cem Bozkurt jumped overboard off the back of Team Alvimedica´s Volvo Ocean 65, it wasn’t just for the thrill of it. It was to jump start a new initiative to raise funds for charities devoted to children’s cardiac health.
An hour after the start of the Volvo Ocean Race last Saturday afternoon, Bozkurt launched from the ‘Jump Seat’ on Team Alvimedica as he waved goodbye to skipper Charlie Enright and his crew on their race to Cape Town.
“It was great fun, a thrill to share the excitement of the start with the team,” said Bozkurt. “But the main reason for me to do this was to call people for a caring initiative. As a part of our commitment to pioneering care in the field of cardiology; we will support local cardiac health charities by auctioning the Team Alvimedica ‘Jump Seat’ at each leg departure around the world and donate the proceeds to the selected charity.”
For the Alicante departure, Alvimedica launched the initiative with a 10,000 Euro check donated to the Menudos Corazones Foundation based in Spain. A group of children who have benefited from Menudos Corazones, along with their parents, came to visit Team Alvimedica in the Volvo Ocean Race village over the weekend.
María Escudero, President of Menudos Corazones, thanked Bozkurt and Alvimedica for their donation, commented: “At Menudos Corazones Foundation we are working hard to help kids with congenital heart disease. This wonderful donation from Alvimedica during the Volvo Ocean Race, starting in Alicante, will improve the life of these kids and their families, at home and at the hospital. A big and deep thanks from our hearts. When you sail, we will be sailing with you.”
Menudos Corazones Foundation is a non-profit-making organization whose mission is to carry out programs and activities necessary for improving the quality of life of children and young people with congenital heart defects and their families. With professionalism and approachability, Menudos Corazones accompanies and supports patients and families in those sometimes complicated situations that arise when someone has a child with a heart defect. More information at www.menudoscorazones.org
Team Alvimedica is the youngest entry in the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-2015, the world's toughest and longest sporting event. The crew is led by American skipper Charlie Enright, age 30. Alvimedica, the European based medical devices company, is the team’s owner. Founded in 2007, Alvimedica is a fast growing challenger in the global field of interventional cardiology, committed to developing minimally-invasive technologies. This is the team’s first entry in the extremely challenging 39,000-mile race that started October 11, 2014 from Alicante, Spain and features stopovers in 11 ports around the world.
Information as to how to bid on the Jump Seat will be available on teamalvimedica.com.
