FAST Charity Gala Highlights Push for Improved Palliative Care in Canary Islands

Tonight, the Friends of the South of Tenerife Forum (FAST) is hosting its annual charity gala at the Mare Nostrum Resort in Playa de las Américas. The event, which brings together nearly 600 guests, aims to shine a light on the shortcomings of the Canary Islands' public health system, specifically regarding end-of-life care.

The gala will honor the "No Somos de Segunda" (We Are Not Second-Class) association, a grassroots movement founded three years ago in Cabo Blanco. Led by Vanesa Díaz, the group was formed after she identified significant gaps in care following her father’s death. Since then, the association has successfully lobbied for improvements within the Canary Islands Health Service, ensuring that patients with terminal or chronic illnesses receive the medical and emotional support they deserve.

This activism is now reaching an international stage. On November 5, Díaz will travel to Brussels to address the European Commission on Palliative Care. She plans to advocate for a common European legislative framework that guarantees minimum standards of care for all citizens—a proposal she has already championed at the national level.

In addition to supporting this cause, the FAST gala will recognize the career of Carlos Paulsen, a member of the Adeje Volunteer Firefighters. The event serves as a powerful platform for "No Somos de Segunda," demonstrating how local advocacy can drive meaningful policy change and transform personal experiences of hardship into a broader fight for fair, high-quality palliative care.