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JORGE MORAGON
Updated
One month since that fateful October 29, 2024. A month since the day that changed life for the populations of the region of L’Horta Sud of Valencia because of the DANA that It has resulted in 222 deaths and material costs that are estimated to be close to 25,000 million euros.. Data that is a perfect description of what has been experienced in this period of time and that perfectly exemplify the people who form a humble club like the Catarroja Volleyball Clubin one of the most affected areas.
We haven’t seen the little children yet because they train in the yard. The sticks, the material… We have not saved them
Lucía Gimeno, coach of the CV Catarroja base
“Catarroja has been one of the places that has suffered the most”begins Lucía Gimeno, a resident of Paterna who works as a coach for grassroots teams and a player for CV Catarroja. A club with 11 federated teams that has seen how everything has affected the 200 families who have their children on each team: “There are many families who had cars, businesses and have lost them. One is a girl’s horchateria, another boy’s oven, the house because he lived in a basement…“, he tells us while consoling himself for not having lost anyone close to him.
Image of the Larrodé School in Catarroja where CV Catarroja normally carries out its activity
The day that changed everything
That day it is clear that the damage was minimized by good action by the council: “We were very lucky because the city council went ahead and canceled classes and sent the children home.“. An action that is clear that it saved lives: “We have a clue in the school pavilion and normally the little ones are from school, and the rest are from Albal, Massanassa… None of our children were caught there “.
Lucky, especially seeing how the facilities of the Larrodé School in which they carry out their activity in training sports. Although, with luck, the main pavilion was saved because it was in a higher area than the rest of the school, this did not prevent the classrooms and fences from falling through the mud. Something that has led them to lose some sports equipment and the outdoor courts where the most initial categories normally played: “We haven’t seen the little children yet because they train in the yard. The sticks, the material… We have not saved them“.
Their parents don’t know when they will be able to have income again and at least not give up sports.
Lucía Gimeno, coach of the CV Catarroja base
Crowdfounding to help children and families
Like many other campaigns that have been started to cover expenses, the members of CV Catarroja have already started one on their social networks (Instagram: @clubvoleibolcatarroja). “It’s more to ask for money and if we get something, well to be able to pay the tokens to those children who have lost everything, their parents do not know when they will be able to have income again and at least they will not give up sports“, he acknowledges. A way for these little ones to disconnect from the situation that continues to be experienced in this town and those near Catarroja. “Everyone contributes what they can personally or anonymously. It is a safe place, in addition to material things if you want, because you can donate an economic amount to us, even if it is minimal, so that we can help the families.“Lucía continues saying.
One of the classrooms at the Larrodé School in Catarroja
In fact, it is true that there are already clubs that are trying to lend a helping hand in any way: “At the CV Paterna Liceo they are going to do a team presentation and they want to raise money to donate to us, Sporting de Soria also wants to see how they can help us and well, any help is always good“. A help that is coming to them from the world of volleyball and where the FVBCV seems to be also trying to help them: “A few weeks ago they sent us a Excel to know the things we had lost, to know what we had to do and to see if they could give us money to travel further away”.
We spoke to the Federation to tell them that we didn’t know if we could go and they told us that they would save the place for us and we would pay for it…
Lucía Gimeno, coach of the CV Catarroja base
And CV Catarroja is one of those 720 clubs that are registered to compete in the Spanish Cup organized by the RFEVB. That’s exactly why they want to try to go with the children so that they can leave the affected area and have a moment of peace, although they must face the expense: “We were signed up, we spoke to the Federation to tell them that we didn’t know if we could go and they told us that they would save the place for us and we would pay for it…“And that is why, resigned by the lack of support, she tells us: “With crowdfounding, we wanted some girls who couldn’t afford it to be able to pay for it ourselves and for them to be able to go and even make it cheaper for the rest if possible.“
Image of a CV Catarroja match before DANA
A response contrary to what they have obtained from the Zaragoza grassroots volleyball tournament that they have been attending for the last three years. And it is that he CV Catarrojalike many other people, companies and entities, is facing one of the most delicate situations they have ever gone through. The club was refounded in 2020 after 20 years of inactivity and its main function at this time is training sports: “We have grown a lot. The idea of the seniors is that the training we have done is the fundamental pillar in our first team. A bit like the reward for your training“And that is why they want to help in any way possible to ensure that the girls and boys, as well as their families, can get ahead and continue with their sports practice.
