A sea of struggle: Jorge Ibáñez swims across the Strait of Gibraltar for his friend with ALS

The swimmer completed the 15,1 kilometers between Tarifa and Punta Cires in 3 hours and 12 minutes to raise awareness of the struggle waged by those affected by this neurodegenerative disease.

Swimmer Jorge Ibáñez crossed the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday, July 24th. Strait of Gibraltar swimming with a very clear purpose: to give voice to those who are losing it. Under the motto Strokes by the voice, Ibáñez has covered the 15,1 kilometers that separate Tarifa from Punta Cires (Morocco) in a time of 3 12 hours and minutes, swimming with a wetsuit, as a symbolic and supportive gesture with those suffering from ELA (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis).

The challenge is born from the commitment to Jorge Murillo Seral, a young man from Zaragoza who has been living with ALS since ten years agoAlthough he can no longer speak due to the progression of the disease, Murillo has become one of the most active and combative voices in the defense of patients' rights. He is, in the words of those close to him, "the voice of all ALS patients and their families."

Murillo can't swim, but his friend Jorge Ibáñez has done it for him. And for the more than 4.000 patients who suffer from this neurodegenerative disease in Spain. The challenge aims to draw attention to the lack of funding for the ELA Law, approved in Congress in 2022 but without sufficient funding. Legislation that, as patient associations denounce, is key to ensuring dignified and specialized care.

Jorge Ibáñez is a long-distance swimmer who has been committed for years to social causesHe is a trainer, physiotherapist, and educator. He has undertaken various charity voyages, such as crossing the Menorca Channel and sailing around the island of Tabarca, using sport as a tool for social visibility and transformation.

Jorge Murillo, from his home in Madrid, manages networks, supports those affected, collaborates with conferences and public figures, and inspired the creation of an association that collaborates directly with Araela (Aragonese ALS Association) and groups from the IIS Aragón to promote scientific advances.

Source: South Europe