BY LISSETTE VALENTIN
Amigos de los Niños Foundation and Corazón de Niño (Child’s Heart) hosted their third Annual Amorcito Corazón fundraising event last March at Cabo’s newest venue, Puerto Raíz in San José del Cabo.
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Amigos de los Niños (Friends of the Children) was founded 33 years ago in Cabo San Lucas. Since then, it has provided quality healthcare to children up to the age of 18, medical consultations, organized clinics and assistance in setting up medical treatment for special cases of those severely ill and/or disabled.
Corazón de Niño was founded in 2001 and for the last 23 years, it has been assisting children and adolescents with congenital heart defects in Baja California Sur. In 2023 they helped 600 children through different campaigns: Diagnosis, Medical Treatment, Dental Health, Comprehensive Patient Care, etc. Each year they traverse every corner of the state taking doctors and imaging equipment to carry out early diagnoses. In mainland Mexico, a child is diagnosed and operated on at 1 year old and in Baja Sur at 5 years old. The organization helped with the modification of the Health State Law so each newborn can receive a Neonatal Cardiac Screening. The approval of this law at the Federal Level in 2021 grants this right to every baby born in Mexico.
Each year, these associations set a goal for the number of participants needing open-heart surgeries with 204 surgeries performed so far. During the last seven years with an alliance that includes Hospiten Hospital, Terumo Mexico and Philips, they were able to offer specialized treatments such as open-heart surgery, pacemakers, catheterization and cardiac ablation through their Unidos de Corazon Program (United by the Heart). Seven out of ten children have received treatment locally rather than having to go to the mainland and leave family behind.
To raise funds, both nonprofits together created the Amorcito Corazon (Loving Heart) event with the motto ‘singing from the heart’. The name of the event was inspired by a song by the famous Mexican singer and actor Pedro Infante.
This year’s event was catered by some of Los Cabo’s finest chefs including Javier Plascencia of Puerto Raíz, Ibrahim Amaya of Jazamango, Enrique Silva from Los Tamarindos, Luis Herrera of H Bistro, Yvan Muncharraz of Comal, Volker Romeike of Pitahayas, and Emanuele Olivero of La Deriva plus all sorts of wines from Baja Wines. The attendees were able to enjoy an amusing equestrian show from Cuadra San Francisco plus live mariachi music and Mala Rumba fusion music. They also raised funds through a live auction of paintings donated by local artists and an antique 1953 Dodge Fargo Pickup truck.
Their upcoming events are two Super Heart Hero races, 2.5K, 5K and 10K, taking place in La Paz in April and in May in Los Cabos. Those interested in learning more about the races or programs offered by Corazon de Nino can visit www.corazondeninobcs.org or contact AuDelia Villarreal the General Director. She can be reached at audeliav@corazordenino.org.
You could also donate in kind, in cash or offer your medical services. Each donation will help one little heart at a time to beat throughout Baja Sur.
