Next Friday, 19th July, at 11am in the Adeje Convento de San
Francisco, Faustino Afonso, the founder of the NGO Athletes Without
Borders, will present his talk, in Spanish “Invencibles: cuando triunfar va
en contra de todo pronóstico”, (“Invincibles: When Succeeding Defies
All Odds”). His talk will focus on the culture of effort and the importance
of discipline and perseverance in facing everyday challenges.
The lecture will be based on personal examples and experiences,
underlining the keys to achieving desired goals, which, as Afonso notes,
“may be found where you least expect them.”
Faustino Afonso is a primary care physician and a PhD candidate in
Health Sciences at the University of La Laguna. He gained significant
recognition recently for testing the innovative Japanese exoskeleton
“Archelis,” which allowed him to assist in a lengthy surgical procedure
standing throughout the operation.
“Archelis” is an exoskeleton originally designed to improve the posture
of healthcare professionals who spend long hours standing in operating
theatres. Afonso’s pioneering trial demonstrated the exoskeleton’s
effectiveness and its potential to help individuals with physical
disabilities remain standing during procedures.
A former Paralympic swimmer and elite athlete until 2017, Afonso was
selected for the Rio de Janeiro Paralympic Games in 2016, placed sixth
in the 2015 World Para Swimming Championships in Glasgow, and fifth
in the 2016 European Para Swimming Championships in Funchal. He
still holds national records in the 50 and 100-metre freestyle events.
Currently, Afonso is evolving his professional path, combining his roles as a
medical professional and elite athlete with becoming a health and
sports advocate on social media.
The Adeje Summer University
The UVA, University de Verano Adeje, will run from 22nd to 26th July,
featuring a dozen courses and six workshops. The central theme of this
event will be the culture of effort and inclusion, two crucial elements that
will permeate both the academic programme and the parallel activities.
Courses will be available for a one-off fee of €25 and €10 for
workshops. Free transport will be provided, as in previous years. The
academic offerings will be complemented by a series of additional
activities taking place at the new Adeje auditorium, including talks,
concerts, recitals, and debates.
All courses and workshops are in Spanish, and details and registration
information can be viewed on the website www.uvadeje.es.
