The Vuelta a Formentera gathers over 200 people in its swimming crossing against cystic fibrosis

The non competition journey, that has been celebrated from June 27th to 29th, allows financing 750 treatment sessions for young people who suffer this illness.

Respiralia Foundation has celebrated this weekend the 26th edition of the Vuelta a Formentera swimming against cystic fibrosis, a charity and non competitive journey that has gathered 220 people originary from Spain, six of them from different European countries.

For three days, from June 27th to 29th, swimmers have swam over 8 miles around Formentera’s island, divided into 4 or 5 phases that have been divided between Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The departure took place on Friday, June 27th at 10 a.m., from the beach of Es Cavall d’en Borràs.

The Vuelta a Formentera is possible thanks to more than 50 volunteers that collaborate in the organization. In total, more than 270 people between swimmers, volunteers and youngsters with cystic fibrosis and their families have lived these days in the municipal sports centre of Sant Francesc Xavier, lent for this occasion by Formentera’s Insular Council.

Thanks to the funds raised during this event, the Respiralia Foundation will be able to cover approximately 750 treatment sessions for children and young people with cystic fibrosis, more than half of the sessions it schedules annually.

Among the participants in this edition, two personal stories stand out, reflecting the spirit of resilience and solidarity that defines the Vuelta a Formentera. Irene Nevado, diagnosed with cystic fibrosis and having undergone two lung transplants, returned to swim on the island after a very difficult year marked by a bacterial infection and acute rejection. Her recovery was made possible thanks to a new phage therapy treatment combined with the drug Kaftrio.

Also returning was Antonio Martínez, known as “Tunai,” a veteran of the event who, earlier this year, suffered a pulmonary embolism that brought him to the brink of death. From his hospital bed, he wrote on social media: “My mind traveled with hope to two moments: watching my son grow up and swimming in the next Respiralia, helping in the fight against cystic fibrosis.”

Both testimonies embody the Respiralia spirit, forged over years of camaraderie, community, and solidarity through swimming.

The Respiralia Foundation was founded in Palma in 2006 by a group of individuals committed to the fight against cystic fibrosis. In 2016, it was awarded the Gold Medal of Palma for its work in raising awareness and supporting people affected by this disease.

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that causes thick secretions, leading to dysfunction in various organs such as the lungs, pancreas, sweat glands, and reproductive organs. In the Balearic Islands, 1 in every 35 people is a healthy carrier of the mutated gene, and 1 in every 6,400 has the disease. Currently, the Respiralia Foundation is aware of 83 cases.