3.5 Years Journey Pays Off as Pau Gasol Earns Overwhelming Help From Spanish Authorities

Pau Gasol grew up torn between two callings—heal with a stethoscope or encourage with a basketball. As a child, he as soon as stated he needed to develop into a health care provider and “discover a remedy for AIDS,” impressed by his hero Magic Johnson’s prognosis. However future nudged him towards the hardwood, not the hospital. He ended up in Lakers gold, similar to Magic. And at this time? He could not put on a white coat, however Pau remains to be fulfilling that childhood ambition—serving and uplifting lives, simply off the court docket.

That mission took form in 2013, when Pau Gasol and Marc Gasol—who could have made their names on the court docket—launched what is perhaps their largest help but: the Gasol Basis. It wasn’t about stats or rings anymore. It was about one thing far greater than basketball—serving to children stay more healthy lives. Rising up with dad and mom within the medical subject, the significance of well being and well-being was instilled in them early. So after they noticed how critical the childhood weight problems disaster had develop into, they didn’t simply discuss—they took motion.

And that motion led to a strong second Pau just lately shared on Instagram. “Immediately we’ve got offered the Longitudinal STEPS Research along with the @gasolfoundation staff, our collaborating entities and the Minister of Well being, @monicagarciag_,” he wrote. “For 3 and a half years, we’ve got adopted the evolution of boys, women, and youngsters in Spain.”

What they discovered was sobering. “Spend 11 extra hours every week in entrance of screens. Do 18 minutes much less of bodily exercise a day. And so they current higher emotional unease,” Pau defined. He didn’t maintain again: “This information warns us a couple of worrying actuality: if not taken preventively throughout childhood, wholesome habits deteriorate quickly. We should remodel the surroundings through which our little kids develop as much as facilitate wholesome selections and curb this development.”

Pau Gasol isn’t simply elevating consciousness—he’s elevating the bar with regards to youngsters’s well being. “Learning the extent of bodily exercise and sedentary life-style of kids and adolescents in our nation is important to advertise insurance policies and academic interventions that contribute to stopping childhood weight problems,” he stated, sporting his President-of-the-Basis hat. And he’s completely proper. In accordance with the World Well being Group, bodily inactivity is without doubt one of the main international threat components and performs a significant position within the rising weight problems disaster. It’s not only a stat—it’s a actuality too many households live by.

That’s the place the PASOS Research is available in—a game-changing initiative launched by the Gasol Basis, alongside the Hospital del Mar Medical Analysis Institute and supported by companions just like the Probitas Basis, Santander Financial institution, and the Barça Basis. This nationwide examine is all about understanding how lively or inactive children actually are in Spain. With backing from Spain’s Ministry of Training and Well being, and even the Excessive Commissioner in opposition to Youngster Poverty, the examine displays how critical this mission is. And with 18.1% of youngsters aged 6 to 9 already dealing with weight problems—and one other 23.2% obese—Pau and Marc Gasol are utilizing their platform to do what they’ve all the time accomplished greatest: lead with function, and combat for the following technology’s well being.

Rafael Nadal and Pau Gasol staff up for charity golf

Pau Gasol’s mission to fight childhood obesity is hitting the golf course, and he’s bringing a powerhouse lineup with him. From June 19 to 22, the Gasol Basis Golf Invitational will take over the scenic La Hacienda Hyperlinks Golf Resort in southern Spain. However the true head-turner? Tennis legend Rafael Nadal is becoming a member of Pau for the event. Yep, two of Spain’s largest icons are swapping sneakers for spikes—all for a trigger that couldn’t be extra pressing: elevating consciousness and funds to sort out childhood weight problems, which now impacts 1 in 3 children in Spain.

It’s not simply Rafa. The occasion may also function hoops star Rudy Fernández, soccer stars Álvaro Morata and Marcos Alonso, and golf execs Álvaro Quirós and Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño—each seven-time DP World Tour winners. The event itself spans each of La Hacienda’s championship programs, and company will likely be handled to a keep on the luxe Fairmont La Hacienda Costa del Sol Lodge, plus a gala dinner and charity public sale. Pau’s clear concerning the purpose right here: “The occasion is born from our dedication to advertise wholesome dwelling and forestall childhood weight problems. It’s a chance to boost funds, generate consciousness, and revel in golf in a spectacular setting.”

The resort is equally excited. Javier Jimenez Casquet, La Hacienda’s director basic, shared, “We have now been impressed by the fervour and dedication of Pau Gasol and everybody on the Gasol Basis in tackling this vital problem, so it is going to be a pleasure to make our contribution to the trigger.” And Pau echoed that very same ardour: “This event was created with a transparent function—to boost funds to proceed selling our mission of stopping childhood weight problems by the promotion of wholesome life-style habits.” With legends like Nadal on board, this isn’t only a golf occasion—it’s a motion.

Pau Gasol could have traded in a stethoscope for sneakers, however he by no means let go of that childhood dream to heal. Immediately, he’s utilizing each ounce of his fame to uplift lives and reshape youngsters’s futures. The mission? Nonetheless drugs, simply with a special playbook.