13 months after death Diego Armando Maradona, her first nephew, Diego López Maradona, created a foundation that is focused on inserting minors with intellectual and physical disability in soccer residing in the Houston, United States area.
“Every sport helps children to grow and they are a little behind. Society may not accept them. So, we created a foundation to help these kids bring them closer to sport. Not only link them to football, but also to aquatic swimming. From there, we realized that it works. The boys have fun and have a good time “, he remarked Ana’s son, Pelusa’s older sister.
“I know that my uncle wanted to make a foundation like this and today the dream is in motion ”, maintained the former soccer player with a past in Argentinos Jrs, All Boys, Defensa y Justicia and Chacarita in Argentina, in addition to Atlante, Puebla and Tabasco in Mexico, to close his career at Houston Hudson, a professional indoor soccer team in the city.
On October 30, López Maradona led a fundraising gala in order to support children with disabilities. “It was the first and I will do it every October 30, which is the day my uncle would have his birthday “said the creator of the foundation.
In dialogue with Libero from Houston, The former soccer player told how the idea of creating the foundation was born. In addition, he detailed which players were part of the gala to inaugurate it and also recalled how the Ten saved his life when he suffered from leukemia.
–How did the idea of having a foundation come about?
–I have come up with this idea for many years. When I was a child, I saw that there were kids who had trouble walking and running; physical problems in general. When I grew up, I helped Centers with children who suffered from special problems. So when I came to the United States I studied to be a Physical Therapist and I specialized in boys with psychomotor problems, with Down Syndrome and Autism. In this way, I started working for a company that promoted me young people and I went to see them. From there, we created the foundation whose motto is: “Help me help”.
“What is the job itself?”
“ I’m going to see them at their houses and I help them get ahead. It is a program of the United States Government that has several agencies that treat these kids. So, they call me and I will visit them at their homes to treat brain problems. I dedicate myself to that and in this way the idea of the foundation was born.
“Is it an expensive program?”
-Yes, it’s very expensive because only the government gives it to you and if you don’t take it, you don’t do anything because you don’t have a way to help them. I see very poor children who are embedded in a bed because their parents have other obligations and other children to take care of. These young people with special needs are a bit behind. So, at the time we thought about creating a foundation to help these kids and bring them closer to sport. Not only link them to soccer, but to aquatic swimming. From there we realized that it works. The boys have fun and have a good time.
What is the purpose of the foundation?
–The idea is to hire specialists and professionals on the soccer fields to come and help the boys and introduce them to the sport. Treating those with Down syndrome and autism is not easy because you have to be patient and know how to handle them.
– How were the beginnings of the foundation?
When I started with this idea it was a bit shocking. But with the passage of time I fell in love with this profession, because I finished realizing the wealth that I have in my house. You don’t value having healthy children who can run and function on their own. When you get into this, you realize the fortune you have in your home and many people do not value it, that gives me strength every day to get ahead. It is a blessing and it is something incredible.
What surprised you about the guys you visit?
–When I have to go to one of the boys’ house, I realize how badly they are having. Their happiness comes from seeing me. When they see me, their faces light up, poor things. I am the one who gives them the treatment, I take them for a walk and give them a special bicycle. When it comes to aquatic therapy they are free and swim very well. People who say they are disabled are wrong because their learning capacity is impressive.
“How many children do you have?”
“ We have two boys. One of them is embedded in a bed. This one has a special story. It turns out that one day his dad went out to drive drunk with him and his wife and they had an accident. The mother died and the boy had a brain problem called Cerebral Palcy. It is a stroke that caused him to become bedridden and his right side did not work. Until with rehabilitation and love today the boy is walking. He does not speak, but when I go to visit him and he took him to eat something he is very happy. Seeing him walk after having seen him embedded in a bed is great. This boy wanted to get ahead and he could.
How many times a week do you attend to the boys?
–Biweekly. I have the foundation in Houston and I can receive donations. The first Maradona Foundation event we did was a gala on behalf of my uncle. People who participated donated things to raise money. We raffle an Adidas Diego shirt. The Pineda family donated three laps in a Ferrari around the city. Another donated a Tablet. We gave that money to a boy who lives in Dallas who suffers from Leukemia, the same one I had. In addition, we put a shirt signed at the time by Pelusa at the auction. Part of the proceeds will go to Saint Jude Hospital, which is responsible for curing children with cancer. The other part of the money went to the foundation.
–Is it true that every October 30 you are going to do a gala in Diego’s name to raise funds for the foundation?
–If so. It was the first and I will do it every October 30, which is the day my uncle would have his birthday. And in that way to raise funds for the boys. Former footballers Claudio Paul Caniggia and Leandro Cufré participated in the first gala, as well as Moisés Muñoz, goalkeeper for América de México, Jesús Molina as captain of Chivas de Guadalajara, and ESPN journalist Jorge Ramos, among others.
“Did your uncle save your life when you suffered from leukemia?”
–Yes. Diego saved my life. At the moment I needed him most, he was present.
–As was?
– I stop playing football as a professional and start working. There, I was left without health insurance. At that precise moment, leukemia seized me. So, I go to the best specialty center in Houston and they tell me I had to pay $ 250,000 to come in and have cancer treatment. I did not get to collect that money. So my uncle called me every day asking why they didn’t transfer me to the hospital. It was then that my ex-wife told him: “We couldn’t cover the money we need for the treatment.” Immediately, Pelusa replies: “Where should I send the money? I already do.” He sent all the money that same day and they put me in the hospital. In a month, the disease stopped me.
“ When you needed it, it was.
Yes, apart from being very aware of me with daily phone calls. We had a very good relationship and I followed him everywhere. I lived with him in Spain when he played for Barcelona and in Naples. In addition, I accompanied him in Dubai and in Mexico, when he was the coach of Dorados de Sinaloa. When he debuted as a coach for the Argentine National Team in Glasgow, Scotland, I went to give him my support and I was by his side. Later, they played in Marseille and I was with my family supporting him. Where I was going, I was.
What did you learn from managing the foundation and after recovering from leukemia?
–That life is beautiful. After my illness, I see life differently and from another point of view. Before I worried about having a new car and going on vacation, I gave importance to material things and did not realize that there are other things to which value. Today, I value all that and it is great for me. Being with the boys gives me a lot of strength to fulfill my life purposes, knowing that everything that one sets out to do can be accomplished.
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